Howland Board of Education president Scott Lehman said an 8.1-mill, 10-year renewal operating levy to be placed on the Nov. 6 general election ballot combines two existing levies and will not increase taxes.
The levy will generate $5.05 million annually, or one-sixth of the district's general operating fund, and will be used to maintain the level of educational programming, extracurricular activities and day-to-day operations.
Lehman said the levy is critical for the district and community's stability now and into the future.
''With state cuts to our funding and no additional local support since 2003, Howland needs these existing dollars to just operate the system in the future. As a district, we are struggling to deal with extensive cuts from the state of Ohio, and we will not be able to maintain current operations without the renewal of this levy,'' Lehman said.
Superintendent John Sheets said Howland schools receive a significant part of their operating budget from two levies, one issue passed in 1983 and another passed in 2003, which generate $3.05 million and $2 million.
He said the renewal levy request is for the same amount that the existing levies were approved to collect in 1983 and 2003.