By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

LIBERTY TWP. - Lakota voters likely will be asked in November to approve a combination levy that would provide money to build three schools and operate for two to three years.

But the proposed 7.7-mill levy probably won't be enough to open a new freshman school or two elementary buildings that would be built and opened in 2007.

"It's scary to go into this because you never want to be in the position to build buildings and not have the operating dollars to put them on line," said board member Sandy Wheatley. "We will need another operating levy to do that."

The levy is a scaled-back version of the 11.67-mill levy voters soundly defeated in March. It includes a 2.2-mill bond issue that would provide $80.4 million for construction, and 5.5 mills that would generate about $12.4 million annually for day-to-day operations.

Taxes would increase about $236 annually on a $100,000 house if the levy were approved, estimated Alan Hutchinson, Lakota treasurer.

The recommendation to lower the millage and postpone some of the construction came after educators reviewed results from a survey of 400 registered voters, employee focus groups and community listening sessions.

"We typically ask for operating levies that will fund schools for four to five years," said Superintendent Kathleen Klink. "However, people told us overwhelmingly that they prefer a smaller amount even though they know it means we will probably have to ask again in two to three years."

Included in the levy is money to build additions to Lakota East and West high schools, but not to rebuild Union Elementary as originally planned.

Enrollment has increased from about 12,200 students in 1994 to about 16,370 when classes ended in June. Projections call for enrollment of about 16,900 when classes resume next month and 17,838 by the start of the 2007-08 school year.

Parent Adrienne Shaul said the levy is still too much.

"Lakota was the reason I moved into the district and now Lakota is the reason I might have to leave," said Shaul.

The board is expected to vote Aug. 2 on putting the issue on the Nov. 2 ballot.