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Harrisburg Schools Want Approval for Proposition II

school buses
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 The Harrisburg School District is asking voters to approve a 67 cent tax levy increase at the polls Tuesday. The district has recently been operating under a deficit budget and funds would help schools get back into the positive. Harrisburg schools have one of the lowest operating levies of their neighboring districts and other conference districts.

Officials say the money would help maintain instructional programs, quality teacher retention and recruitment, and facility maintenance and improvements. Although the district hasn’t planned any cuts to programming, changes will need to be made if the levy proposition fails Tuesday. Harrisburg Superintendent Lynn Proctor says it’s time to get serious about bumping up funds for students.

“The last time we have had an increase to the district’s operating levy was in 1991, so obviously over the last 24 years our expenses have increased and we are just needing to find a way to stay ahead of those increases,” she said. Proctor says the funding is crucial to balancing the district’s budget, which can’t operate in the negative long-term.

Officials say in addition to regular upkeep, the money is essential to the quality of education for students. The schools want to stay up to date with the technology available to students so they have the same opportunities as other districts. Harrisburg School District President Sean Cochran says if the tax proposition fails, schools will be forced to save money somehow.

“So we’ve done some things in the past…merging jobs together, staff reduction, but it’s catching up to us so we’re going to have to start looking at things like that again,” he said. Harrisburg doesn’t have any local media outlets, so often times it’s hard to get the word out to voters. He says that although he and other taxpayers don’t typically like increasing taxes, people should vote yes for the kids.