School treasurer rebuts funding claims made in letter

To the editor,

In his letter to the editor last week, Kevin Strogan had several factual errors about the district’s levy history and plans. The letter stated that the district got 9 new levies from 2000 through 2013. In fact, only three of those levies were for new operating revenue, in 2003, 2010, and 2013.

Two of other six levies he referred to were Granville Library levies. The school district does not get any of the proceeds of any library levy, but does administer them. Two of the levies were to renew/replace the district’s permanent improvement levy that was passed in the 1990s. They yielded almost no new money to the district. A fifth levy was to renew the operating levy that passed in 2003, generating no additional revenue beyond the original amount.

The ninth levy Mr. Strogan referred to was the 2000 bond levy to build Granville Intermediate School. That levy generated no additional operating revenue for the schools, but did allow for the construction of a new building during a period in which Granville Schools grew from having fewer than 1,700 students to more than 2,500 students.

Finally, Mr. Strogan suggested that the district “might” lower property taxes if the proposed earned income tax passes. In fact, if voters approve the income tax, the permanent improvement levy referenced above will not be put on the ballot for renewal, requiring it to end after 2019. In addition, the district’s classroom facilities levy by law expires after 2019.

Mike Sobul, CFO/Treasurer

Granville Exempted Village Schools