School District's Levy Campaigning to Kick Off Soon

District officials are about coming out swinging when it comes to the upcoming permanent improvement levy.

Cuyahoga Falls City School officials are planning several ways to get the word out about why the district needs the five-year, 3-mill levy. And they only have about 70 days before the May 7 election (and even fewer before early voting starts April 2).

"It's kind of a time crunch," Superintendent Todd Nichols said at Monday night's Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education meeting inside the high school.

On the way are billboards, mail cards, yard signs and opinion pieces and advertisements in their local media publications by the end of March. Those will tout the reasons the district needs the levy, which was approved by the board in January of this year.

If approved, the levy would generate $11.1 million in revenue and cost homeowners $91.88 per year for every $100,000 in valuation.

Revenue would be used for safety and technology maintenance and upgrades as well as building maintenance and repairs.

Nichols said he's trying to keep up to date with the community's thoughts on the levy, and that includes keeping an eye on what Patch readers are saying:

• Terry: "2 NO votes from my house. My monthly COLA increase is gone with a health insurance premium increase, a Warner Cable increase, a previous levy increase on my property tax and the list goes on. I can't ask the voters to help with my bills. I have to ADJUST and hope for the best."

• Dave: "2 YES votes from my house. For technology and safety upgrades? I don't even have kids in the CF schools, but I think I can swing $7.50 a month so the children will be safer and better educated. Everyone's bills are increasing, I got a raise this year only to see my paycheck decrease from the increase in the social security tax and an increase in my health care premiums, but I will always vote YES for a school levy.

• Adam C. Miller: "So why don't the parents of kids in the district pay a little more $$$? Why do us childless couples have to pick up the tab..."

• Board President Kellie Patterson's reply: "Because Adam, when I was childless, I picked up the tab for you ;)"

Nichols said a bond issue is one alternative to the permanent improvement levy.

"The chatter on the Patch seemed to indicate: Should we do (the permanent improvement levy), or should we do the bond?" he said. "Neither opinion said we should do nothing."