To the editor:

I was very disappointed when attending the school levy forum at Salem’s auditorium with the lack of attendance. This levy is a big issue for everyone living in Salem. The Board of Education’s committee for the levy had slides on what the new K-8 building could look like with possible classrooms also shown.

I did not like either of these options. They were very modernistic with the classroom shown to have big blue circles on the walls. Our colors are red and black. If these pictures were to persuade us to vote for a new school, it did just the opposite.

If you remember when Reilly Stadium was renovated the first time, it was not attractive at all. The aluminum bleachers were built so the first four or five rows could not view the running track. The band shell is separated from the student body. Thanks to a committee of Salem citizens headed by Karen Carter, Reilly Stadium is now something to be proud of with the brick and black wrought iron fencing, the brick walkways inside the gate with people’s names on them that donated. My family name is one of them. It’s absolutely beautiful. The Board of Education had nothing to do with these changes. The levy committee keeps saying this levy has nothing to do with demolishing the high school, but they have not said that it could not happen in the near future and this proposal from the Ohio Facilities Commission keeps that on the table.

At the forum we were told they just wanted to give us the facts. The facts are what I will be listing. Every time an article about the levy is printed in the paper the amount of money you will be paying is wrong. I have received an absentee ballot, and the levy has two parts.

1. Issue bonds for 37 years at $104 for each $100,000 of the County Auditor’s appraised value. To give you an idea of what you could be paying, I will share what it would cost me personally.

My home is valued at $235,000. I went on the County Auditor’s site and put my parcel number in. You can then click on levy, and it will tell you how much you will be paying if the levy will go through. I would be paying $286.72 more per year. The Homestead Exemption Act will not change whether the levy passes or fails. The Homestead Exemption is given to people ages 65 and older where $25,000 is taken off your home’s valuation before taxes. I was advised by the County Auditor’s office that next year it will change to $26,500. Channel 21 news recently reported if the levy passes the new school will not have students attending classes until 2028. We will be paying the taxes on it starting in Jan. 2024. We will be paying for a school for 4 years before it’s built and ready for students.

This is not a replacement levy; this is an additional levy. We are already paying on an improvement levy. (which I voted for) Right now 72% of my property tax goes to the Salem School District. Collected in the year 2021 (the county is always behind on collections) I paid $1,677.06 to Salem Schools.

I attended open houses for Buckeye and Reilly schools in August. I took 18 pictures to show people how well maintained these buildings are. Everyone I have shown these photos to are surprised by how bright and beautiful the inside of these buildings are. The floors are extremely shiny. Thank you to all the maintenance workers that have put their hard work on display.

In conclusion, it would be a shame to tear down these beautiful buildings. Salem Community Foundation, why not give that $10 million to maintain these schools?

Please vote ‘No’ on the Salem School Levy.

Lucille Zamarelli Karnofel,

Salem Alumni