A somber group of parents, teachers and school officials saw its proposed tax levy fail for the third straight time. The school district, which hasn’t passed a levy since 2005, had levies fail in May 2010, November 2010 and, now, in November 2011.
Overall, this time around, 53.52 percent of the vote went against the levy, while 46.48 was for the levy.
“I just don’t think people, who don’t have children in school, think about what the ramifications really are. They just don’t want to pay more money. Trust me, I don’t want to pay more money, but I have to make a commitment to the community I live in,” said Felice Fishman parent of two children in the Lakota school district.
“I don’t want to say it, but I just think people are selfish,” Fishman said.
>>>PHOTOS AND BUZZ FROM ELECTION DAY 2011 IN WEST CHESTER<<<
Lakota’s proposed 4.75-mill tax levy, Issue 5, would have raised $12.6 million annually with collections beginning in January. Taxes would increase about $145 annually on a $100,000 house.
“It is very frustrating,” said Chiqui Aull, who is a parent of two in the Lakota school district. “It doesn’t make sense to vote against it because everyone who owns property in West Chester just had their property go down.
“It is sad because people moved to West Chester for Lakota because of the school system and they could end up choosing Mason or Fairfield, who just passed a levy.”
>>>RECAP OF ELECTION DAY 2011 IN WEST CHESTER<<<
While disappointed that the levy didn’t pass, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia “respects the vote of the residents” and says that the next step is “talking with the board of education and outreaching to the community.”
Mantia didn’t share what cuts were going to be made as a result of the failed levy.
“It is an uncertain future,” Mantia said.
“It is a disappointing night, but it is a good night because we know that Lakota children are going to be educated. We have an excellent staff, our ratings are top notch and I feel very fortunate that we do have a great school system that the community can be proud of.”
Posted in: Board of Education, Election, Government, Levy news, News, Schools |
