The Windham Exempted Village School District is hoping to pass Issue 10, an additional tax levy, to raise funds to replace an aging heating system.
“Our purpose for this levy is to purchase a new boiler system for our Junior High/High School building,” said Windham Superintendent Aireane Curtis in an email. “When the JH/HS was constructed back in 2000, the boiler system was never updated and we are still using the old system. We have to get a new heating source for the JH/HS building. It unfortunately won’t make it much longer.”
The 1.5 mill levy can only be used for permanent improvements on things like buildings, buses and parking lots for the district. If approved, the levy would collect $72,958 per year for five years. For example, this would cost $3.93 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home, Curtis said.
Any remaining funds from the levy that don’t go toward the new boiler system will be used for roof repairs, parking lot repairs and any other needed updates for buildings and school grounds.
This issue has been on the ballot in the past, but Curtis is hopeful it will pass this time around. The levy failed by 785 votes to 705 in November.
“We are optimistic that when people hear why we have a levy on the ballot, they will approve it,” she said.
The polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and remain open until 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee ballots are also available. The last day to request one by mail is May 1 at noon, though voters are encouraged to get their absentee ballot request in by April 27 to ensure enough time for mail delivery. All absentee mail ballots must be postmarked by May 3, or received at the Board of Elections Office by Election Day on May 4, prior to 7:30 p.m.
Maria McGinnis is a contributing writer for The Portager.