Motion to seek renewal of Toledo Public Schools levy in May fails without vote

1/22/2013

Toledo Public Schools may not seek a renewal tax request from voters in May as a Toledo Board of Education committee had recommended.

At a meeting today, a motion to seek a renewal of the district's operating levy this spring failed without a vote.

Earlier this month, the Toledo Board of Education’s finance committee voted to recommend to the full board that a special election be held in May to renew the district’s operating levy.

The five-year levy is for 6.5 mills and generates about $13 million a year for the district. It was last approved by voters in 2008 and runs out at the end of the calendar year.

Committee members had been presented with several options for possible levy requests this year, including ballot questions in May, August, or during the November general election, or for going for a new levy, a replacement levy, or a renewal and new money levy at the same time.

The decision comes just months after voters rejected a new 4.9-mill, 10-year levy that would have generated $13.3 million annually.