VIENNA - With state funding cuts to the district and infrastructure needs for the school buildings and properties, the Mathews Board of Education on Thursday gave final reading to place a 4.65-mill emergency operating levy on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
Superintendent Lew Lowery said the five-year levy will generate $680,000 annually for the day-to-day operations and emergency needs of the school district. He said the high school is in need of roof repairs and septic work.
Treasurer Brian Stidham said the school district, like others, has received less in state funds, especially in the past few years.
He said the district has cut expenses by closing the middle school in Fowler, and by moving seventh and eighth grades to the high school and sixth grade to Baker Elementary. Stidham said the moves cost money.
The district houses kindergarten to second grade at Currie Elementary in Fowler, third to sixth grade at Baker and seventh to 12th grade at the high school, both located in Vienna.
Stidham said the five-year forecast has the district at $72,000 in the red for the end of fiscal year 2013, and $775,000 in the red for the end of fiscal year 2014.
If the levy passes, the district will receive half of the money in 2013. Stidham said without passage of the levy the district will run out of money.
The district also has a permanent-improvement levy that expires in late 2013. Stidham said the board has decided to wait before placing that issue on the ballot.