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GARY STELZER
Desmond Burress looks through a high school planning book Thursday, Feb. 4, during lunch at Vail Middle School in Middletown.
Voters are saying, ‘We can’t do this anymore’ on school levies
Struggling school districts asking for more money
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By Marie Rossiter and Richard Wilson,
Staff Writers
1:51 AM Sunday, February 7, 2010
MORROW — Rising costs, state funding cuts and a drop in property values are causing school districts to struggle to keep out of debt.
Schools continue to ask their communities to fill the financial gap through operating levies based on property taxes. But, as the economy stays stagnant, districts are finding cash-strapped voters reluctant to pay additional taxes.
Warren County’s Little Miami School district faced its fourth levy loss in a year Tuesday, Feb. 2, when voters rejected a 16.95-mill measure.
Statewide, eight of the 13 school tax issues on the special election ballot were rejected by voters. Madison School District, which asked for a replacement levy, was one of the few that passed.
At least eight districts in Warren and Butler counties are considering tax issues this year.
With four recent levy failures, Superintendent David Baker said Springboro voters will likely see a tax proposal in November.
Baker said levies are failing throughout the state, as property owners are saying, “We can’t do this anymore.”
“Little Miami is the first of many school districts ... you’re going to see one by one they will continue to go into some type of receivership with the state until this is fixed,” Baker said.
“It’s the hardest vote I’ve ever done. To me, it was harder than any presidential election,” said Little Miami voter Rosemary Dean. “My heart told me not to vote for it, but I did anyway. I’m fortunate that I can afford the tax, but I know that so many others who are on fixed incomes can’t afford it.”
Despite recent defeats, districts mulling levies
The results of the special election Tuesday, Feb. 2, gave a clear message to school officials: It’s a tough time to be asking communities for more tax money.
A lagging economy, high unemployment and lower real estate values have forced voters to keep a tighter grip on their wallets.
Madison School District convinced voters to pass a replacement levy on Tuesday, Feb. 2, but Little Miami’s request for a five-year, 16.95-mill measure was soundly defeated 55 percent to 45 percent. It was this Warren County school district’s fourth failure in 15 months.
Only five of 13 school tax issues passed statewide on Tuesday. School leaders watched the special election results as they consider their own levy strategies. Eight districts in Warren and Butler counties will consider tax requests this year.
The Edgewood Board of Education will meet Monday, Feb. 8 to consider an emergency renewal levy on the May 4 ballot.
“We understand the community is facing hard times now too because of things like home reappraisal values dropping,” said Edgewood spokesman John Thomas, who said details for the renewal request would not be available until after a board vote.
Middletown City Schools will ask residents in May to approve a substitute levy to replace two emergency levies expiring in December that annually generate $14.3 million and $4 million, respectively. Spokeswoman Debbie Alberico said district officials know taxpayers don’t want to pay new taxes.
“Since 2005, the district has reduced (millions) in spending from the general fund,” Alberico said. “The district promised residents they will only ask for money when they need it. If we lose this money, it is 26 percent of our budget. It’s vitally important the levy passes in May so that collection can start again in January 2011.”
Spending is the issue
During recent levy campaigns, accusations have been hurled at “no” voters, claiming they are “anti-school” and “anti-taxes.”
“Taxes aren’t the problem with voters; it’s how they’re spent,” said Justin Binik-Thomas of the Cincinnati Tea Party. “People want to see that the money is being used in a responsible manner. Right now, many people don’t believe that is happening.”
Howard Hickman has lived in the Madison Twp. school district 42 years. He strongly believes in providing a good education, but questioned the district’s spending habits and the fact a $17 million K-12 school is being built.
Hickman said he used to attend school board meetings and post signs showing his opposition to school levies. In recent years, though, he said he’s backed off because “the system won’t change and schools will just keep going to the ballot, no matter what we say.”
School districts need to be careful with the focus of their message, according to Binik-Thomas.
“In Little Miami, voters said there was a lot of talk about losing sports and extra-curriculars. But, people don’t care about that when it comes to spending their money. They think, ‘I can’t pay for Latin or Spanish classes, but I can find other opportunities for sports or activities outside the school.’”
School funding
Schools are experiencing increased costs because of growth in enrollment, increasing health insurance premiums and rising costs of supplies and materials, and salary negotiations, among other things. But they are seeing a reduction in state funding based on recent reallocations under Gov. Ted Strickland’s education plan.
As long as districts have to rely on local property taxes for revenue, “there’s going to be a problem,” said Springboro Superintendent David Baker, whose district has rejected four-straight requests.
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8:43 AM, 2/26/2010
I keep looking at that palace they built for a high school and it makes me all clammy inside.
The state will not act if we give in now. They are just as bad
We cannot keep rewarding bad behavior? That is a bad lesson for our kids to learn right there.
1:32 PM, 2/12/2010
10:33 AM, 2/11/2010
You are a pro-union stooge. There is nothing wrong with tax-payers wanting their employees (teachers) to work for a market-based wage. The main problem is the gold-plated pension the sock puppets on the school board have stuck us with. Early retirement in your fifties with a lavish salary and nearly free full medical FOR LIFE just isn't realistic. The voters will not support it, nor should they.
Don't let them steal your home levy-by-levy. Vote NO!
9:10 AM, 2/11/2010
8:40 AM, 2/11/2010