Dover, Ohio (WJER) - The Dover School Board is dialing-back their next ballot attempt this spring. On Monday, the school board submitted a request to the county auditor to certify a 6.9-mill operating levy request for the May election. Superintendent Carla Birney says she thinks this is a good solution after voters overwhelmingly agreed the 8.9-mill levy rejected in November was too high.

“Over the last few months, we’ve heard from many of our community members that the request was simply too high, and we’re trying to be responsive to that,” she explains. “We worked hard to reduce the millage for our citizens while maintaining the level and quality of programming our community expects and deserves.”

Birney says the funds generated through the levy, paired with other cost-saving measures, could carry the district for another five years without having to take additional steps.

“This request will be around 6.9-mills, and we’re able to do that because we’re reconfiguring the elementary schools, we’re reducing 7 to 10 teaching positions, and we’re moving forward with the changes that were outlined in November," she says.  

If approved, the levy would generate $2.6-million annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 property $20.13 per month. 

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