WORTHINGTON -- A steering committee promoting a "yes" vote for November's District 518 operating levy referendum will officially kick off its drive this morning.
A press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. in front of Worthington High School, with the general public invited and encouraged to attend. Lawn signs and informational sheets will be distributed at the event.
Gordon Moore, one of the steering committee members, said in a Friday meeting that the group formed in June and has met on a weekly basis. There are 11 members attending "from all walks of life," Moore said, with new members still welcome.
The committee has selected the theme, "Strong Schools, Strong Communities; Invest in Our Future," as a means of conveying the importance of the referendum on multiple levels.
"We're at the point where some really serious decisions are going to have to be made if the referendum fails," he said.
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"This is not just about kids," added Greg Raymo, another steering committee member. "It's about all of us. It's about maintaining our population, encouraging economic growth and attracting new families to our area."
Voters will be asked Nov. 7 to approve or deny an eight-year operating referendum that seeks $1,000 per pupil unit. A five-year, $900-per-pupil unit operating referendum offered to voters last year failed.
Committee members stressed Friday that if the new referendum passes, the state government will give $1.10 to District 518 for each levy referendum dollar collected -- tax money citizens have already paid.
"If the referendum is not passed, this state funding goes to fund other state programs or agencies -- not education and not necessarily our communities," Moore said.
In the event of rain, today's event will take place in the high school gymnasium.
