LORAIN — In a brief but crucial meeting Wednesday night, the Lorain school board voted to put a $6 mil­lion, 9.12-mill emergency levy on the ballot for the Novem­ber election.

The vote was 4-1, with board member Jim Smith say­ing he opposed putting the levy on the ballot but would support getting it passed.

If passed, the 10-year levy would cost homeowners about $320 per $100,000 of home value.

An emergency levy is based on the dollar amount, not millage, Smith explained. If property values rise, the county auditor has the authority to lower the millage. If values fall, the auditor can raise the millage to make sure the district gets the guaran­teed money. An emergency levy also cannot be renewed, Smith said.

About a half-dozen people attended the meeting. With Lorain School Treasurer Dale Weber absent, board vice president Paul Biber filled in as treasurer pro tempore.

With an abbreviated agenda, many of those in attendance did not hear Biber call a hearing of the public immediately after being appointed to fill in for Weber. No one got up to speak, and the meeting moved on to the levy vote.

When, after voting to put the levy on the ballot the motion was made to adjourn, resident Charlie Becker asked about the public getting to speak, he was told the public hearing had passed.

Lorain resident Jack Wargo stood and said, “This is why we don’t want to back them.”

Board President Tony Dimacchia said he was pleased to see the levy support the committee, led by Bambi Dillon, Janet Garcia and Sanford Washington, already in place to promote the levy.

“We need to show people not only what this levy can do for the city, but what not having it will do to the city,” he said.

The perception that he hears, that the district hasn’t cut enough, is frustrating, Dimacchia said.

“We’ve cut administration at Charleston (the district headquarters) in half,” he said. “Administrators gave back in their contract, and hopefully the (Lorain Education Association) will, too. Our salaries are in line with other districts our size, and below some. If we keep cutting, we’re only going to hurt the kids.”

Contact Melissa Hebert at 329-7129 or mhebert@chroniclet.com.

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