“When I tell you that May 8 is one of the most important days in the district’s history, I am not joking,” he said. “This is crucial for the long-term health of our district and for the children that attend school here.”
READ: Election 2017: Graham Local Schools income tax results
The income tax would last five years and generate about $1.9 million. The district’s current budget is about $19 million, but with rising costs in education, Koennecke said, the money isn’t enough.
Graham voters rejected a similar levy in November. The 1 percent tax on earned income would have cost someone making $30,000 annually about $300 a year. Voters then expressed concern about raising taxes.
Should the levy fail again, Koennecke said the district will have to make tough cuts that will include changing the transportation model for the first time in district history, cutting about 15 classified staff members raising participation fees and possibly more cuts.
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“We have been spending the last five months raising awareness among our parents and the people in the community to make sure they understand our financial need,” Koennecke said.
The money raised by the levy would go directly to the school’s curriculum to pay for educational materials and not pay raises, Koennecke said.
“This is not about providing for adults; this levy is all about providing for students,” he said.
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