There will be six, tax levy renewal issues on the November 3, general election ballot; all of which were addressed last week at the Boardman Civic Association’s annual Candidates and Issues forum held at Boardman Park. They include three Boardman Township levies, including one that solely provides fund for the Boardman Police Department; two for the Boardman Local School District; and one issue of less than one-mil for Boardman Park’s Green Oasis.
      Speaking on the Boardman Township issues was Administrator Jason Loree, who said renewal of the issues “are very important to our community.
      “These are challenging times for our community,” Loree said, and these levies provide funds for all of our safety forces, as well as the road department and zoning...These are the folks who are doing a heck of a job during a very difficult time.”
      Loree said the 3.85-mil police levy was first approved by the electorate in 2011 and generates about $3.5 million, or about half of the department’s annual budget.
      Other Boardman Township issues include a 2.5-mil issue first approved in 1995 that generates approximately $1.8 million, as well as a seventh-tenths-mil issue that generates $265,000.
      “All totaled, these levies generate about $5.5 million for our township,” Loree said, while also noting there will be a Boardman Park renewal issue on the ballot and urging support for the measure saying “The park is a beautiful place, and let’s keep it that way.”
      Of critical need to Boardman Park is its six-tenths-mil renewal that generates about 45 per cent, or $522,000, of the district’s annual income. “It will cost the owner of a $100,000 home less than $19 a year,” park commissioner Joyce Mistovich said, adding that the park has operated on the same millage (1-mil) for 72 years.
      Boardman Park has 60 acres of land designated for recreational purposes and 183 acres of natural habitat.
      “The Boardman Park Board and staff have never wavered from our mission...and have worked diligently to meet the recreational needs of an ever-growing community, while the board serves as prudent stewards of the tax dollars entrusted to use,” Mistovich said.
      Boardman Local School Superintendent Tim Saxton, now in his fifth year at the helm, said the district will have two renewal issues on the ballot, a 5.9-mil levy, first approved in 1996, that generates $4 million a year; and a 6-mil issue, first approved in 1991, that generates $3 million.
      Saxton said the district has used CARES Act funds to offset the cost of plexiglass barriers needed to operate the system (due to the coronavirus pandemic), as well as masks and other PPE purchases. He said over the last four years the teaching staff has been reduced by 16 teachers; and also noted the district lost some $880,000 “that was removed by the government during the COVID event. We need to work together to keep Boardman Local Schools strong.”