To the editor:

I am writing in response to the Salem Board of Education asking the voters of Salem to pass a levy on our property taxes for the construction of a new K-8 school.

I have always been a proud supporter of Salem schools. However, I will not be voting for this levy. I agree with Karen Carter that there are too many unanswered questions before the citizens of Salem accept another increase to our property taxes. Are they tearing down these historical buildings or are they repurposing them? Where will it be built? They moved 7th and 8th grade students out of the junior high because they advised the building was not safe. But now, it’s being used by Kent State and our City Health Department. They advised the senior high school also had plenty of room for the two extra grades because of the lower enrollment over the years. Now, they want to move them out again. Has enrollment changed or are there problems with the lower grades having issues with the upper grades?

This levy will be for 37 years! I will be paying an additional $276 a year more on my property taxes. My property tax as of now is like having a monthly car payment without a new car. I am retired and my income is not increasing, but food, TV, utilities, gas, and city water are skyrocketing.

How about the Salem Board of Education coming up with a more creative way of funding for this project if they feel it is really necessary? It seems they are taking the easy way out of adding a levy to our property tax. The only people paying are ones that own property. All the people who rent property will not have to pay anything. This is one time we need to vote “no” against the new K-8 Salem school.

Lucille Zamarelli Karnofel,

Salem Alumni