Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > March > 21
Friday, March 21, 2008
November ballot looks busy for schools
Trotwood’s school board last night announced it would seek a 9.06-mill levy in November. A quick survey shows at least 10 school levies are likely in the four-county area (Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Warren) for the fall. There will probably be more as we get closer to the August filing deadline.
Many of the levies are for school construction. That’s partly because now is the time for districts to grab cash from Ohio’s tobacco settlement, as Chris Magan and I wrote last year.
But for those going for new operating taxes, many of them are making the argument that the moves are at least in part driven by the state’s phase-out of the tangible personal property tax. That’s one of the reasons Trotwood is giving for its anticipated $3.4 million deficit looming for 2009 and Piqua made a similar argument while seeking an income tax that passed on March 6.
The tangible personal property tax is a tax on items like inventory and equipment that big business fought hard to eliminate. House Bill 66 began a five-year phase out in 2006. The state is reimbursing part of the lost revenue, but that reimbursement also will whittle down over time.
Districts, as they work on required five-year projections, are now starting to say the decline in revenue is forcing them to go to voters.
Here is the list, so far, of who is likely to be on the ballot this fall:
Dayton: The district’s 15.17-mill levy failed last May and school officials have said a new levy is likely this fall.
Huber Heights: The district is expected to decide in May if it will seek a bond issue for school construction this fall.
Beavercreek: A $90 million bond issue for renovation and new school construction was defeated March 4 and could return.
Valley View: The district may retry a bond issue for a new K-12 school. The issue was defeated March 4.
Xenia: School officials have announced that in November they will seek a tax levy to fund the district’s $66 million share for a state and locally funded project to build and renovate schools across the district.
Greeneview: The district sought a half-percent income tax to raise $10.5 million over 28 years to pay for the local portion of a $33 million project for a new school, but the issue lost on March 4.
Springboro: A 5.99-mill continuing levy for operating expenses was defeated March 4. The district is considering a range of options, but could go for a levy in November, if it doesn’t call for a special election in August.
Waynesville: The district’s 10-mill, three-year levy renewal failed on March 4. Another try in November is possible.
(Image credit: Santa Barbara Independent)
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: School Funding, Schools and Politics
