Genoa area residents pass both levies

GENOA – Voters passed both a renewal and addition levy in the Genoa Area Local School District on Tuesday, sparing art, music and physical education programs for students and preventing staff cuts.

According to unofficial results from the Ottawa County Board of Elections, 69 percent of voters, or 1,616 residents, voted in favor of the 5-mill renewal levy. Originally passed in 1990, the levy generates about $800,000 per year. It will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $223.

An additional emergency levy of 6.38 mills for five years will begin in 2016 and generate $1.025 million to help fund programs and pay for teacher salaries and school materials. Fifty-seven percent of voters, or 1,330 people, voted in favor of the additional levy.

Laura Walters, of Clay Township, voted for both levies Tuesday afternoon while at Genoa High School athletic complex.

"It's important to keep schools operating at the maximum potential for future students," Walters said.

Her son Evan, 5, is a kindergartner at Genoa Elementary.

"He's going to be here a while," she said.

Angela Bradford, also of Clay Township, said she voted for both levies as well, citing her six children as her reason.

"I believe in the community, and I think strong schools come from strong communities," Bradford said.

She said she grew up in the area and chose to raise her children in Genoa because of its strong school history.

"We've always had good schools, and I want to continue that tradition," she said.

Superintendent Dennis Mock said the elementary school would have had to cut art, music and physical education programs if the levy did not pass. The district has 1,419 students, with 652 in the elementary school.

A shortfall of more than $1 million would be made up by eliminating various positions and raising some fees. Sports pay-to-play fees, for example, would have doubled from $100 to $200 per student for each sport played.

Last year, residents rejected school tax increases twice.

jdenton@gannett.com

419-734-7506

Twitter: @jessicadentonNH