by Kristin Casale
Associate Editor
Stow " Voters denied a request for new money from the Stow-Munroe Falls School District for the fourth time Aug. 5.
The Stow-Munroe Falls School District levy, Issue 1, failed 4,310-2,616, according to final but unofficial results from the Summit County Board of Elections " 62.23 percent voted against and 37.77 percent were in favor.
The 3.2-mill, five-year levy would have generated $3 million each year and maintained the district's current operations in the face of rising costs and stagnant state funding.
"Obviously, the School Board, the administration are very surprised about the results and very concerned," said School Board President Denny Mariola. "We're going to have to open the five-year forecast and see where the next cost reductions are going to have to come from. We have our work cut out for us."
Superintendent Dr. Russell Jones echoed Mariola's comments, saying, "We all knew an August election statistically was not good for school districts, but the need was there."
Jones thanked levy committee co-chairpersons John Harris and City Councilmember John Pribonic and committee member Stow Mayor Karen Fritschel for their help with the district's campaign.
He said school officials will discuss whether to seek another levy in November.
"It's likely we'll have to have conversations with the Board of Education and decide our next course of action," said Jones.
The school district's attempt to pass a 6.5-mill, five-year levy that would have generated $6.2 million failed in March by more than 3,000 votes.
The last new-money school levy, 4.39 mills for five years, was passed by voters in November 2002.
If Issue 1 had passed, the owner of a $100,000 house would have paid an additional $98 annually in taxes that go toward the school district. The owner of a $200,000 home would have paid $196 annually for the levy.
According to the Summit County Fiscal Office, that same owner of the $100,000 home paid $1,060 this year in school taxes.
Maryjean Donofrio, director of the Summit County Board of Elections, said Aug. 5 preliminary reports indicated turnout was about half of that of a general election.
Total voter turnout for Summit County was just under 23 percent.
"Everything has gone relatively smooth. We haven't had any major problems," she added.

E-mail: kcasale@recordpub.com
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