Columbus City Schools are starting the new year with a new levy committee.
Board of Education President Terry Boyd announced at the Jan. 8 meeting the Levy Action Committee has been formed, which will make recommendations to the board regarding whether or not to put a levy on the ballot, but the membership is still being confirmed.
Boyd said after the committee members complete their research and investigation period, they will present their recommendations to the board on whether it is in the district’s interest to have a levy put on the ballot. They will also recommend an ideal rate of millage.
"Actual discussion of whether to file to add a levy to the ballot or not and millage hasn’t been brought up to the board yet. A levy has to be filed to be put on the ballot 75 days prior to an election, which in this case would probably happen in November 2008," said Boyd.
Treasurer Michael Kinneer presented the 2009 Fiscal Tax Budget, which is required by law to be filed with the Franklin County Auditor every year by Jan. 20, but emphasized that this is not the same thing as the CCS school budget he presents in June.
"The primary purpose of the document is to convey to the county auditor, who then takes the document to the Franklin County Budget Commission, the continued need to collect taxes to support the district," said Kinneer.
At a special meeting held prior to the regular meeting. Columbus City Schools board member-elect Gary Baker, II, was sworn in. Baker, a Westside resident, recently resigned from his position of chair of the Greater Hilltop Area Commission in order to take his seat with the school board.
Board member Carol Perkins became the new vice president of the board. Perkins is also a recent board member, having been sworn in to the board in February 2007.
According to Boyd, there is not really a precedent for selecting vice presidents, except that vice presidents are most commonly selected to become board president since they have an intrinsic understanding of the legal responsibilities of the board president.
"It’s easier to transfer from the position of vice president to president rather than a typical board seat to president because of the lack of understand of time commitment and other responsibilities," said Boyd.
