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CORTLAND -- After a surprising increase to inside mills through property reappraisals, the Lakeview Board of Education said Monday it will cancel the levy request that was set to appear on the March 19 ballot.
The 4.9-mill request that failed in November would have generated more than $1.5 million per year, and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $171 per year, Treasurer Sean Miller said previously.
"The general consensus is that with the unprecedented increase in property taxes for both our Bazetta and Cortland residents, we really felt like this was probably the worst possible time to ask anybody to commit to paying more in taxes because they got a surprise in what the reevaluation brought to the table," Superintendent Velina Jo Taylor said.
The tax raise, coupled with inside mills increasing 12% for funds coming into the district, are reasons Taylor suggested the district take a step back.
"That is essentially a little more than the amount we were anticipating getting from the 4.7-mill levy," Taylor said. "When you think that money is going to come in anyway, due to inside mills, then it doesn't make a lot of financial sense for us to ask people to pay even more."
Taylor added that most of the board and levy committee were in agreement that the levy was something that should be paused.
The levy committee consists of Beth Harris, former board member; Alexandra Devengencie-Bush, parent; Deidre Petrosky, mayor and grandparent; Thom Foley, resident; Nicholas Facciolo, teacher, resident and former graduate; Ashley Handrych, administrator and former graduate; Amy Newton, parent; Taylor Pease, parent and board member; Melissa Maki, parent; Joshua Vastag parent and former graduate; Ryan Stowell, resident, parent and administrator; Lisa Collins, parent and administrator; and Taylor.
"There's a whole lot of talk down at the state legislature about trying to give property owners tax relief," Taylor continued. "And most of the tax relief that we're hearing about has some kind of a negative effect on what we get in taxes. So we're going to probably see at least one, if not several different ways, that they will clawback some if not all of that money."
The board decided, based on what is now known about the extra money coming in, which was previously unaccounted, that it would be best to withdraw the levy.
"There was an awful lot to consider before we reached a conclusion," Taylor said. "But I think they were most determined to make sure they did what was best for our property owners, so that's what they did."
When first contacting the Trumbull County Auditor's office about the now-canceled levy, Taylor explained, officials indicated that funds coming in would be around $500,000.
"It's a nice chunk of money, but it just barely covers one payroll for us," Taylor added. "That's a minimal percentage increase and wasn't anything to write home about. What they actually let us know for sure and confirmed was that 12%, which is almost four times what that amount ($500,000) was. And it was enough that gave us a little bit of breathing room."
FAILED LEVY
In a press release by the superintendent's secretary, the district wrote:
"While the treasurer cautioned there are several probable variables that will reduce the funds coming to the district, the board recognizes local retirees and property owners will struggle to pay their 2023 taxes that have jumped at rates exceeding 40% for some."
Treasurer Sean Miller predicted in November that the next levy request for the upcoming election would all the same amount of revenue, but with a lower millage, of about 4.1 mills.
"We don't know exactly how much, but it would be lower," Miller said. "But the dollar amount would be exactly the same."
As stated in the release, Board President Mark Harper said with the withdrawal of the levy, he hopes the residents of Bazetta and Cortland recognize the district's commitment to be both good stewards of taxpayer money and partners with residents in maintaining a supportive and collaborative community.
Harper also noted the district's deep appreciation for the efforts of the levy committee.
In November, the levy received 47% approval, while 53% voted against it, according to the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
According to the forecast, the district will be in deficit spending by 2026.
"This year on my forecast, and next year, we are not deficit spending," Miller said in November. "We're close, but we're not. But then in 2026, 2027 and 2028, we're in deficit spending. But that assumes we receive no additional money. And that's just because of the increase in insurance expenses and teachers getting their step increases."
The school has not passed a levy since 2011 and the district has been operating on that $1.05 million annually. In last year's election, Lakeview proposed two levies: a 5.85-mill levy for emergency operating funds and 1-mill levy for school safety. Voters rejected both.