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Will third time be the charm for Little Miami school levy?

Fiscal emergency vs. flawed funding system core of debate

Cars line up to pick up students Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, from Little Miami Junior High School in Morrow. When the school levy failed last spring, busing was cut for students that lived within two miles of the school. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

Apryl Pilolli Cars line up to pick up students Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, from Little Miami Junior High School in Morrow. When the school levy failed last spring, busing was cut for students that lived within two miles of the school. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

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By Marie Rossiter, Staff Writer 10:43 AM Friday, October 23, 2009

Little Miami school officials believe it could be a three-strikes-and-your-out scenario if the proposed levy fails in November.

“If it fails again, we literally cannot make payroll to the end of the year,” said Superintendent Dan Bennett. “We will be in a fiscal emergency and the state will come in and take over our schools. I don’t want to make it sound like a threat. I’m just trying to be as honest as I can.”

The district is asking voters to approve a five-year, 7.95-mill incremental levy, which amounts to an additional $243 per year on a $100,000 home — 20 percent less than what the district asked for in May. In 2010, the amount would go up another $38 each year for the next four years.

Voters rejected a continuous, 1 percent earned income tax last November and a three-year, 9.95-mill levy in May.

Bennett said the district has already cut more than $5 million — or 17 percent — from the school budget.

This includes closing two schools, cutting more than 80 jobs, stopping all art, music and physical education classes in the elementary grades, reducing bus service and starting a full pay-to-participate program for extracurricular activities.

“There is simply nothing else to cut that won’t impact the education we provide to our students,” Bennett said.

Opponents of the levy said they are not against the schools, but against paying higher taxes and the state’s school funding system.

“The system we’ve got is the most ridiculous, unfair way of funding schools,” said Bill Nicholson, who is a 25-year Morrow resident.

“What Columbus is saddling us with is over complicated. If you keep voting for business as usual, all you’ll get is business as usual. It needs to be fixed and I won’t vote for it.”

Boiling it down

The Little Miami School levy debate could be boiled down to short-term needs versus long-term changes.

Nicholson has two main issues against passing the operating levy. Nicholson said the levy is a short-term fix for a bigger funding program at the state level. He called into question the state education’s funding formula, saying it places an unfair burden on local residents through property taxes.

“My property taxes doubled in the last seven years and my income has gone down almost 50 percent,” Nicholson said. “How can I vote to pay a tax I can’t afford?”

A district survey conducted last summer indicated a majority of people favored an earnings tax rather than an increase in property taxes.

“It would take about 18 months to collect money from an earnings tax,” said Superintendent Dan Bennett. “A property tax allows us to start collecting money this school year and save us from bankruptcy.”

According to the Warren County Tax Auditor’s office, Little Miami has the lowest millage rate (20) in the county, compared others such as Mason (33), Kings (28) and Lebanon (25).

District treasurer Shaun Bevan said the district’s money problems stem from the combination of rapid growth, a reduction in state aid and falling tax revenues. Since 2002, the district has grown by 51 percent or 1,454 students. At the same time, tax revenue is down and the district lost $6 million in state aid as of July 2007. In the 2009 biennial budget, the district’s funds will be cut by 3 percent.

If the levy does not pass, the district would first go into “fiscal watch,” which means there is not enough money to finish the fiscal year. By the summer of 2010, this would switch to “fiscal emergency,” when state officials come to Little Miami to run its finances. Panther Pride campaign chairwoman Melinda Briggs said having state officials come in to run the district is a major concern.

“Officials that we will not elect will run the district as they see fit,” Briggs said. “As a parent with students in the district, I have a problem with that.”

A preliminary state audit shows that Little Miami is already operating at state minimums in most areas, including busing, extracurricular activities and building use.

The superintendent’s biggest concern is how to maintain the district’s “excellent” academic standards. Little Miami’s graduation requirements would be reduced from the current 24 credits to the state minimum 20 credits—not enough content for admission into many state colleges, including Ohio State.

How will the levy vote impact the district?

If the levy passes:

•Property owners will pay an additional $243 per year on a $100,000 home . In 2010, the amount would go up another $38.

•District busing would return effective Jan. 4, 2010

•Art, music and physical education classes would return to schools as of the 2010-2011 school year

•Pay-to-participate fees will be reduced to $200 from the current $431 fee

If the levy fails:

•“Fiscal emergency” declared; state would run finances until deficit is below 15 percent of the general fund revenue

•School buildings would be shut down after school hours for all non-school and community related activities, including scouts, community leagues, etc.

•All extra curricular activities will be eliminated as of the 2010-2011 school year.

•Graduation requirements cut from 24 credits to 20 credits

•Closing school libraries

•Reduction or elimination of special classes such as Advanced Placement.

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Thanks other side, I had no idea part time workers made so much money. Not bad for only 9 months of work.

thanks for letting us know
7:51 PM, 11/16/2009

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Hopefully the school will now do the right thing and not submit any more levies until the state can come in and modify contracts.

Here is the salary listing for Little Miami:
http://lpe.oxfordpress.com/share/sa...

The Other Side
12:00 PM, 11/4/2009

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I want to thank everyone who voted no on this levy and made it fail. I would hope that the school now realizes that the everyone wants the state to come in and renegotiate the union contracts and do things right. A BIG THANKS goes out to everyone!!!! Hopefully we stop paying shop teachers over $90,000 to teach a shop class. Thanks again,

VoteNoLevy.

VoteNoLevy
10:50 PM, 11/3/2009

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FED UP- we don't raise our children on fast food. We don't spend our Sundays spending money at the mall. Not because we can't afford to, but, because we don't choose to. We are conservative and common sense. The school gives 85% of our tax dollars to the administration. Not the kids. That needs to stop. If you don't like that then you can move or send your children to private school.

Deb
6:35 PM, 11/3/2009

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FED UP - you sound like one of the folks who blame every levy failure on Morrow or retired people in Morrow. Do some research. Everybody in the village could vote twice against the levy and it would STILL pass if Hamilton Twp. wanted it to. Last I heard Hamilton Twp. led the way in foreclosures. These are tough economic times for most. Conservative, taxpaying, family oriented voters are still the backbone of Warren Co. We don't move every 5 yrs. This is, has been, & will be our home.

Deb
6:32 PM, 11/3/2009

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