Fayette’s school board moved one step closer toward asking voters for a levy renewal, but the board’s support is far from unanimous.

Board members voted 3-2 at the regular meeting July 16  to declare a “necessity to proceed” with the renewal request. Kelly Bentley and David Brinegar opposed the motion.

The next step is to approve a resolution to proceed, the final step needed to place the issue on the November ballot.

In March, board members voted to allow the five-year levy to expire. That action followed news of a $3.9 million settlement regarding a contamination issue on school grounds.

Since then, some board members announced their intent to reconsider the issue after approving a deficit budget.

The 7-mill levy actually collects taxes on 6.1 mills, said superintendent David Hankins. Because the levy is on-going, it will not result in any new money for the district, he said.