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Little Miami voters to face 16.95-mill levy in February 2010

Superintendent says large levy only way to avoid state takeover.

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By Marie Rossiter, Staff Writer Updated 9:46 AM Friday, November 13, 2009

The Little Miami school board voted tonight, Nov. 12, to place a 16.95 -mill levy on the February 2, 2010 ballot.

“I know its a big challenge, but I can’t support anything else but going for the whole thing,” Bennett said. “After 25 years in the business, I know that we provide the best education for the best value. We need to work to communicate this better.”

As of Saturday, Nov. 14, Little Miami will be placed on ‘fiscal watch’ by the state, meaning there is not enough money to finish out the school year.

The levy would cost taxpayers an additional $516 in annual taxes on a $100,000 home.

Crowd reaction was mixed to the vote. Many people said they support a levy, but fear that the latest request may be too much.

“It’s going to be very hard to pass, but I hope our community sees this as an opportunity to put on a united front to avoid having the state come in and control our children’s educations,” said Karen Hauser, a Hamilton Twp. resident who two students in the district.

Cheri Bauer of Pleasant Plain said her high-school junior daughter is worried because she won’t have the classes she needs for a post-secondary education.

“Colleges look at senior year for academics and athletics,” Bauer said. “Without these, her chances for a scholarship are done.”

People in the crowd against the Nov. 3 levy said issues with state funding and the affordability of the new taxes were primary reasons for their no-vote.

On Nov. 3, voters rejected a five-year, 7.95-mill incremental levy by a vote of 52 percent to 47. The levy would have increased taxes $243 per year on a $100,000 home.

This week, the district proposed a list of new cutbacks:

• Three library aides will be cut and the libraries would be open one day each week as the one, head librarian rotates between buildings.

• Two regular custodial positions will be eliminated. In addition, one of the unfilled five-hour custodial positions will not be filled.

Bennett said the payroll cuts would save the district about $100,000, but there is still a long way to go to fix the district’s financial problems.

Little Miami schools already slashed their budget by more than $5 million — or 17 percent — from the school budget. This included 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.

Without a levy, the district faces “fiscal emergency” and state takeover by July 2010, according to Bennett. The state, would be responsible for developing a recovery plan that would include numerous cuts. Under fiscal emergency, the district can make recommendations, but the state will get to decide how to move forward.

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Why is the school operating in the red making higher and higher levies "needed" rather than making the necessary cuts now. If they get more money later then they can increase again but balance the budget now no matter how painful. The truth is the kids lives will not be ruined any more than mine was by having so much less than they do at school. The most responsible thing is to tell kids they can't have their sports and music lessons paid for by unemployed, starving people.

mn
2:44 PM, 1/23/2010

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We seem to be forgetting in in this discussion that the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled the current property-tax-based school funding regime to be unconstitutional because it fails to comport with the Ohio constitutional mandate for efficient and equitable education. LMSD is the poster child for that proposition. That issue aside, I'm not going to stand by and be forced to fund another bailout for fiscal incompetence, especially not at another 16.95 mils. I'm voting No. Again.

Dave
4:51 PM, 1/14/2010

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Private school parents still pay local School taxes!!! Believe me if you add up the cost of busing a private school child vs. sending that same child to your school you get more of my tax money. Please educate yourself before you speak.

Grrrrrrr
8:54 AM, 12/31/2009

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My issues: 63.25% of my tax $ goes to LMSD now.
Less than 50% of staff and faculty LIVE in LMSD.(look it up)2008 salaries and wages for Principals in LMSD $760,000.00 Tteasurer scoffs at $400k savings audit(does not live in LMSD)
1.43mil from State for busses.I have 2 in same school 1 has bus service, 1 does not. Now they are reimbursing folks for private school transport costs.What the heck. Panther Pride compares audit to performance. Audit proves where you spent it. Not how. read it ODE.com

Bob
4:47 PM, 12/30/2009

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Dennis,

I read the entire article. It said that over 80 positions were cut and that cost $5 million. Let's say for sake of argument that we "needed" all positions back. Okay. Then why do we "need" $13 million per year(that is what 16.95 will bring in according to Nick Nelson, auditor) So.... did you read the whole article, or, are you just a blind sheep?

J. Calypso
9:59 AM, 11/23/2009

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