By Kate Seegeraves

Staff Writer 

The Greenon Local Schools Board of Education voted in a special meeting July 20 to proceed with a resolution of necessity to put a seven-mill emergency levy on the November 2010 ballot.

During the meeting, district treasurer Ryan Jenkins said an emergency levy would be the most immediate method to stem the district’s budget problems.

In the district’s current five-year forecast, the district is projected to have spent more than it brings in by about $1.05 million at the end of fiscal year 2011.

For residents who have a home valued at $100,000, a seven-mill emergency levy would mean an extra $214.38 annually in taxes.

In addition to adding the levy to the November ballot, Jenkins and district superintendent Lori Lytle said the district must make an additional $500,000 to $750,000 in cuts to the district’s overall budget.

Teachers, bus drivers and parents filled the audience during the special meeting. After the public portion of the meeting (board members moved into executive session after the levy discussion), spectators filled the hallways at Indian Valley Middle School to discuss the board’s decision. Several district employees expressed concern regarding potential personnel cuts in the near future.

Greenon High School teacher Barb Jenkins said district employees were already aware of the district’s financial situation: both the bus drivers’ and teachers’ unions had voted not to accept raises during the 2010-2011 school year to assist the district and show the community that "the need is there."

At the same time, Jenkins expressed her concern at residents’ willingness to pass the emergency levy in the fall.

"I’ve been in this district for 33 years, and historically we hardly ever pass a new levy on the first try," she said. "I would like for the people of this district to prove me wrong."

The board members are keeping a positive attitude about the levy’s chances of passing in November, said board president Nelson Henning.

"I think people are reasonable," he said.

"If we tell them what is going on and what we need, I think reasonable people will react in a reasonable way, We haven’t asked for any new money in 14 years.

"Our funding has gone down year by year and expenses have gone up. We have managed our budget tightly and made it last through the years, but now we’re out of money. We don’t have much of a choice."

Lytle, Jenkins and the board members addressed the district’s potential budget cuts in more detail at a second special meeting July 26 at Indian Valley Middle School.

The results of the meeting were not available at press time. Visit www.enoneagle.net for more up-to-date information.