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Little Miami returning to ballot

Voters will be faced with two tax issues  in May.

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 11:49 AM Thursday, February 18, 2010

HAMILTON TWP. — Little Miami school board took the final step Tuesday night, Feb. 16, toward placing two tax issues on the May 4 ballot.

The two measures, if passed, will not be enough to avoid a deficit in the district, which will fall into fiscal emergency this summer with the Ohio Department of Education, regardless of the election outcome.

Voters will be asked to approve a 1 percent earnings tax, which will generate about $6.4 million a year, and a 6.483-mill operating levy, which will generate about $4.9 million a year.

The operating levy, if passed, will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $199 a year in property taxes.

School board members and Superintendent Dan Bennett called the proposals a compromise with voters, who have rejected the last four tax requests.

“We’ve got to stop fighting as a community. We’ve got to continue to listen to our residents,” Bennett said.

Bill Brausch, leader of the levy opposition group Citizens for Fair Taxes, said his group will support the 1 percent earnings tax and will not actively oppose the proposed operating levy.

Julie Perelman, leader of the pro-levy group Panther Pride, said educating the public will be tough this time because Panther Pride is completely out of campaign funds.

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I graduated from LMHS in 87 too. It was a crap hole that was badly mismanaged then and it sounds as though things haven't changed a bit! Thankfully I had sense enough to run far far away as soon as humanly possible and allow my children a proper education in a REAL school system. Ron White said it best....."You can't fix stupid". Oh and hi Eric!

Jessie
12:21 PM, 5/19/2010

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Eric Eikenberry said it perfectly. Too many(not all)parents see the public school system as a "free" day care. We need to rewind a few decades.Mothers and fathers need to volunteer. I am a mother of three and, just, **** that feminist movement. Parents are the solution no more $. Get rid of the Dept. of Education and they might have my vote.

lm resident
9:12 AM, 4/29/2010

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this school board continues to ignor the community. No means NO! you have spent too much and maybe in 5 to 10 years there can be a small increase to your budget. if you don't like it move. (period) the majority of this community can not afford this school. go back to the basics. if a property tax or income tax passes i will be forced out of this community. my house will sell for less and the schools will get monies and suffer more. STOP the insanity. VOTE NO.

gregg phillips
8:09 AM, 4/2/2010

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To the LMSD school board I say this; cut all of the bus routes. If parents cannot encourage enough of their neighbors to vote for the levy then make them responsible for conveying their children to and from school, sports events, and band!

We didn't have small class sizes when I was a student there. 32-35 students was the norm, if I remember correctly. Yes, 8 more students would be an increase. Schools provide the backbone of our future society. Short-change them at your own risk!

Eric Eikenberry
4:47 PM, 3/24/2010

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How dare people who have had the benefit of someone else's property having paid for their education, begrudge the schools and the children where they live! Get involved yourselves, go and donate your spare time in a classroom! Go and grade papers for a teacher or shelve books in the library so the librarian can provide useful instruction. Go and help with band or sports, even if you don't have a kid attending the school!

Eric Eikenberry
4:43 PM, 3/24/2010

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