Board misses levy deadline
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Feb. 23, 2005

It's unlikely Westlake voters will see an operating levy on the May ballot because the County Board of Elections did not receive the board of education's paperwork by the deadline.

In two separate votes Feb. 11 and 14, the school board voted 4 - 1 to place a 5.7-mill replacement levy on the May ballot which, if passed, would have generated about $5.4 million annually for operating expenses. The cost to the owner of a $100,000 house would be $140.79 per year, or $11.74 per month.

However, Treasurer Mark Pepera sent the forms to the Board of Elections by certified mail after the Feb. 14 meeting. But the forms did not arrive until Feb. 18, one day after the deadline.

Board of Education President Renee D'Ettorre Wargo said board members were under the impression Pepera would take the paperwork to the Board of Elections in person. However, she later learned it had been his practice to send levy forms by certified mail.

"In the future, (paperwork) will be taken in person," D'Ettorre Wargo said.

"I think it was a mistake in judgment," she said, adding that the board has otherwise been pleased with Pepera's performance as treasurer.

Pepera was unavailable for comment. However, D'Ettorre Wargo said he accepted responsibility and apologized to board members.

Westlake Schools will likely make an appeal to the Board of Elections members at their March 7 meeting to get the levy on the May, D'Ettorre Wargo said.

However, D'Ettorre Wargo said at the moment it appeared unlikely the levy will be on the May ballot. She said if the appeal fails, the district will most likely place the levy on the November ballot.

Meanwhile, D'Ettorre Wargo said the board of education would look into why the certified mail package did not arrive by the deadline. "We need to investigate the situation further," she said, saying the board will look into whether the package was misrouted.

The district paid Triad Research Group around $19,000 for a telephone opinion poll last month of 400 registered voters who said they were likely to vote in the May primary election. The poll showed an operating levy in May would probably pass. When asked how they would vote on an operating levy of 4.9 mills this May, 53 percent said they would vote in favor of the levy, 32 percent against, with 16 percent saying they were not sure.

The poll also showed 91 percent had a positive view of the education offered by Westlake Schools.

The district also paid the consulting firm of Burges and Burges about $21,000 to survey community leaders on their willingness to support a levy. The firm recommended the district place the levy on the May ballot.