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Groveport Council endorses Groveport Madison Schools' levy
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - April 14, 2009)
In an action not seen in recent Groveport political history, Groveport Village Council unanimously voted to endorse Groveport Madison Local Schools' levy.
"In my 22 years (as a councilman and then as mayor) council has never endorsed a school issue," said Mayor Lance Westcamp at council's April 13 meeting. "I've never seen such enthusiasm (for the levy and the schools). The district is doing it right."
Voters will consider Groveport Madison's three year, 9.36 mill operating levy on the May 5 ballot. The proposed levy is a renewal with an increase of 3.9 mills on the existing 5.46 mill operating levy, originally approved in 1996 and which generates $4.5 million annually. The proposed 9.36 mill levy would generate an estimated $7.7 million per year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home an estimated $120 more per year at $9.95 additional per month.
Council's endorsement of the levy was met with applause by the two dozen or so people in attendance at the April 13 meeting. The vote followed appeals by Groveport Madison Superintendent Scott McKenzie and Issue 12 co-chairs Brian Shoemaker, Marti Prince, and Dan Harder for council to endorse the levy.
Shoemaker told council the community must "put the past in the past and focus on the future." He added, "With your endorsement we will gain a stronger community and stronger schools, which will help stabilize the most important foundation of our community - the school system. Stand up and say you believe in the schools."
McKenzie presented this information about Issue 12:
•Groveport Madison collects the lowest property taxes of the 16 public school districts in Franklin County.
•It has been 12 years since the district received additional property tax funds from the (existing) levy.
"We haven't gotten a single penny more since 1997," stated McKenzie.
•The Groveport Madison Board of Education has made $1.4 million in cuts and will need to make more if the levy fails.
•Levy funds will be used to purchase new textbooks, increase the number and quality of student computers, and continue to improve student instruction as well as pupil/teacher ratios.
•Teachers (and administrators) have offered to take a base salary freeze through 2009-10.
•The levy will raise property taxes by $9.95 per month for a $100,000 home.
"That's the cost of a medium pizza a month," said McKenzie, who added that on May 2 at the high school the levy campaign will host an all you can eat pizza night for $9.95.
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