Lakewood City Council: We Support School Levies

In an apparent sign of solidarity with the school district, Lakewood City Council passed a resolution supporting Issue 84, a combined bond issue and permanent improvement levy, headed to the Nov. 5 ballot.

Council introduced the resolution Monday night, with six of seven council members signing the document, seeking immediate approval on the measure.

This sort of support isn’t uncommon in Lakewood. Earlier this year, council OK’d a resolution that backed Issue 14, a 3.9-mill levy, ultimately passed by voters.

After receiving the news that the school district had been approved for $50 million to finishing rebuilding a few schools, the school district is aksingvoters for help covering the rest of the $100 million project.

The first is an expected 3.25-mill bond issue; and the other is a .5-mill permanent improvement levy. 

The total combined millage would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $131 per year or $11 per month.

The Lakewood City Schools got the green light to receive $50.4 million in state money to build/renovate three school buildings, but the district must now make up the difference of the state money for the expected $100 million project.

The final phase of the school district’s Master Facility Plan would demolish Grant, Lincoln and Roosevelt elementary schools, as well as the eastern portion of the high school, then rebuild them.

The local share is an expected $28.6 million.

Assuming the schools’ levies pass at the ballot box this November, the third and final phase of construction could begin in early 2015.

The elementary schools could finish as soon as early 2016; and the high school in 2017.