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Written by Michael Metzinger | February 14, 2010

Despite a defeat by 11% at the polls in November, the Austintown Local School District will try once again to pass the same 2.9 mill school levy this May. When I heard the news, I honestly wondered if Austintown School Board did not get the message at the polls the first time around? Do they really think they can push this levy down the throats of Austintown residents just seven months after the exact same levy was soundly defeated 55%-44%?

Here are a few factors the School Board needs to realize:
a) People are sick of tax increases.
b) People will not pass a levy that increases taxes during a recession.
c) Taxpayers are not naive. They realize this is the exact same levy as the one that failed in November 2009.

We have already seen in Youngstown that new school buildings do not translate into better test scores. For a state that is trying to cut spending in every area possible, I find it laughable they would subsidize half the construction costs for this project, if it were to pass.

This May, Vote No on this school levy. It is one thing if you try to pass it when our economy is strong, but I find it irresponsible on the part of the Austintown School Board to ask for a tax increase during a deep recession.

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