Twinsburg School Board Cancels May Levy Vote
The Twinsburg Board of Education has canceled a May vote on a 6.9-mill renewal levy, citing confusion over the state funding plan
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The Twinsburg Board of Education has canceled a levy vote scheduled for May, citing confusion over the state funding plan.
The board approved the cancellation by 4-1 vote, with Board Member Stephen Shebeck voting to keep the levy on the ballot.
Twinsburg school officials have been considering whether to continue with plans for the 6.9-mill levy since Gov. John Kasich's school funding proposal showed a large increase in state funding for Twinsburg's school district.
Board members said that the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the budget picture makes it perilous to ask voters to vote on a levy until after the state budget is clarified.
Board Member David Andrews said the board will still have "a time or two" to put the levy on the ballot this year once the budget is finalized in June.
Shebeck said he believes the board should stick to its plan and keep the levy on the ballot.
"I think we’re creating confusion," he said. "We voted to put it on the ballot."
Superintendent Kathryn Powers says she understands the board's decision and that board members "do not take this decision lightly."
"They believe this is the best thing for our school district at this time," Powers said.
READ MORE: Superintendent Powers Suggests Board Schedule Levy in August
Still, Powers said she has concerns with rescinding the levy vote, which equals about $4.4 million annually for the district and suggested putting the levy on the ballot in August.
Here's a breakdown of the state funding increases in the governor's proposal:
| 2013 | 2014 | Increase | 2015 | Increase | |
| Twinsburg Schools |
$2,677,312 | $5,465,921 | 104.16% | $6,832,401 | 25% |
School board members held a public forum last week to hear from residents their opinions on whether the board should proceed with the levy.
The school board meets at 7 p.m. tonight. Twinsburg Patch will be there to bring you coverage of the vote.
MORE COVERAGE:
Carl S
2:15 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
They exhaled NO, and on the very first inhale, want to put it back on.......
I was going to give them a pat on the back for respect, but I opened this up, and read the very next paragraph :-(. geeze. TURN some of those paring lot light OFF for crying out loud!! It isnt Cleveland Hopkins Airport for crying out loud. Do we need to VOTE NO on any and all pay raise levies to get the message across?
Tyson Dinda
9:45 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
In the next article where the superintendent recommends an August levy Powers said she hopes the board will put the levy on the ballot in August, after the confusion of the district's financial picture clears up.
Translation..... By August it will be more likely the voters will forget that the state gave them a huge funding increase and they have a better chance of getting more from us.