Mentor School Board Votes To Put Two Renewal Levies On May Ballot

The Mentor Schools Board of Education voted unanimously during a special meeting Friday to put two renewal levies on the May 2013 ballot.

The renewals -- which would not raise taxes if passed -- are for a 8.84-mill operating levy that brings in about $15 million per year and a 1-mill permanent improvement levy that brings in about $1 million per year.

The permanent improvement levy is set to expire at the end of this year. The operating levy would expire at the end of 2014.

The operating levy is a 10-year renewal levy. The $15 million it brings in annually represents about 17 percent of the district's general fund.

Though this levy will likely be on the ballot this May, if passed, the school district will not start collecting on it until after its predecessor expires at the end of 2014.

Meanwhile, the proposed general improvement levy would be for a continuing period of time, meaning that -- if it passed -- it would never expire.

Because it is a permanent improvement levy, the district can only spend the money that levy brings in on improvements for grounds and equipment.

Mentor Schools has not had a new levy since 2004.

CFO Daniel Wilson previously said the district would need a new levy by the 2015-2016 school year or it would face a $30 million deficit.