By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — A rare school-levy success can be attributed to voters who recognized the value of the issue, said Sonny Heinonen, Conneaut Board of Education president.
A five-year 1.5-mill permanent-improvement (P.I.) levy won by a 2-1 margin in Tuesday’s general election. Unofficially, the measure passed by a 2,829-1,429 count.
The outcome broke a string of levy setbacks. Five consecutive operating levies were handed their hat by voters in recent years.
The P.I. levy was different, earmarking money solely for four specific purposes, none of them involving wages or benefits. Also, the levy was a renewal, meaning tax bills will not increase.
Money from the P.I. measure — around $200,000 annually — is used strictly for bus transportation, technology, textbooks and building maintenance.
“After three years of cutting, cutting, cutting and five levy failures, people understood the dire need,” Heinonen said.
Tuesday’s results don’t necessarily mean a brighter future for operating levies yet to come, Heinonen said.
“I don’t believe we’re setting a precedence with future levies,” he said. “People just recognized a need.”
Heinonen praised the “hard work” logged by a pro-levy citizens’ committee. “(The members) did a great job,” he said.
