A member of the Friends of Boardman Local Schools Committee, Cristina Beggs, addressed the Boardman Civic Association last week on the 5.9-mill current expense renewal levy that will be on the May 5 primary ballot.
      Beggs, a Democrat, of Teakwood Dr., is a teacher in the Columbiana Exempted Village School District, where she has been employed for 13 years. She served as a Title I coordinator for the Boardman Local School for six years prior to her employment in Columbiana.
      Beggs told those in attendance “education is so incredibly important to me” and she chose to live in Boardman because she knew her children (a fourth grade student and an eighth grade student enrolled in Boardman Local Schools) “would receive an excellent education and many, many opportunities” such as Chess Club, Walking Club, cross country, orchestra, lacrosse and ‘cheer.’
      “Our children our fortunate they have these opportunities,” Beggs said, continuing “Now let’s talk about the facts.”
      Beggs said the levy on the ballot generates $4.2 million a year. The Boardman Local School District operates on an annual budget of some $60 million.
      The 5.9-mill issue was placed before the electorate last November as a continuing levy, meaning if approved, it would become a permanent tax.
      The levy on the May 5 ballot is for current expenses and is not a continuing levy, meaning if approved, it would have to be renewed after five years.
      “This renewal will mean no new taxes to homeowners,” Beggs said, noting if approved it will cost property owners $102 per year for every $100,000 of evaluation.
      She concluded her remarks saying “These renewal dollars are crucial to keeping Boardman Schools strong and keeping Boardman excellent. I hope you will leave here remembering three things---
      “This is a levy renewal, not new money. The tax rate on the school’s portion will not cost more;
      “What you have been paying for breaks down to about 28-cents a day;
      “This is a current expense levy which makes about $4.2 million in our $60 million general fund budget or about 7 per cent of the district’s general fund.
      “That amount is vital to programs and services.”