By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
JEFFERSON — The Conneaut Board of Education levy will be the only issue on the Feb. 13 special ballot, meaning the district will bear the entire cost of the balloting.
No other entities have issues on the ballot, which could have allowed the Conneaut Area City School District to share a portion of the expense.
The school board is seeking support for a five-year $1.5 million emergency operating levy, rejected by voters in the past four elections. School officials say the money is needed to head off a $7.5 million budget shortfall estimated to arrive within five years.
Cost of the election could run between $17,000 and $20,000, depending on a few variables, said Duane Feher, Ashtabula County Board of Elections deputy director.
Mounting an election, even for one school district, is a considerable effort, Feher said. Four workers must be hired for each of the 19 precincts that will vote on the issue — 16 in Conneaut, two in Monroe Township and one in Sheffield Township — he said.
Tabulating machines need to be delivered and retrieved from each precinct, Feher said. In some cases, polling places must be rented for the election, he said.
Ballots must be printed at a cost of 29 cents each, and absentee ballots must be mailed to those who request them, Feher said. “The cost can add up,” he said.
Voters now may start voting absentee for the school election, Feher said.
“We’re getting requests (for ballots) already,” he said.
