Some Lakota board members against placing levy on ballot

LIBERTY TWP. — Even though the Lakota School District Board of Education has not reached a decision about whether to place a tax increase on the November ballot, a few members do not support such a move.

Board President Ben Dibble said the board conducted preliminary tax levy discussions last month, which are expected to continue at its next meeting on June 25.

He said he personally is not interested in placing a tax hike on the ballot at this time.

The deadline to place a tax levy on the November ballot is Aug. 8, according to the Butler County Board of Elections.

“There’s a lot of information that we need before we know how much of a levy we need to put on. Eventually, we will need more revenue, that’s clear, but we want to make sure that we’re asking for the right amount, at the right time, and to do the right thing that our community expects us to do,” he said.

Dibble said some of the information that will factor into the board’s decision includes the uncertainties of the state biennium budget and how it will support Ohio school districts.

“We need to reach out to the community and find out what they want to do with our education,” he said.

Board Member Joan Powell declined to comment about whether she would favor placing a tax levy on the fall ballot.

Board Member Ray Murray said since the district has not engaged the public, he does not feel it would be appropriate to place a tax levy on the ballot at this time.

“Since we have not engaged them to find out what kind of school district they’re willing to support and what they want to see in a school district, I think it would be not prudent or ill-responsible to put a levy on,” he said.

District voters have rejected three tax levies in the last two years.

Board Vice President Julie Shaffer and Board Member Lynda O’Connor could not be reached for comment.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.

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