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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > April > 13 > Entry
Editorial: Trotwood’s levy a good investment
2010 ELECTION
At first glance, Trotwood schools might not seem to have a very good case for their 7.5-mill additional levy on the May 4 ballot.
The community has been hammered by the recession and especially the foreclosure crisis. The levy is large. It will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $229 a year, raising $1.8 million annually for the district’s $41 million operating budget.
Voters soundly defeated two large levy requests from the district last year, including an identical issue in November.
Meanwhile, the district’s finances are not yet desperate. While expenses will outpace revenue starting next year, Trotwood’s projections show it could live off its reserve funds until 2013. The district also paid employees a 3 percent raise this school year, a nice bump at a time when many other employers have cut pay, frozen wages or given more modest increases.
But there is more to the story.
Trotwood’s stable finances are partly the result of aggressive moves, including tough cuts. Since 2002, the district has cut $5 million, or about 12 percent, from its operating budget. And while the employees are getting a healthy raise, their latest contract switched them over to a much higher $4,000 deductible for health insurance, with the district’s contribution toward insurance shrinking each year. The net effect is higher insurance costs for the employees.
The fact that Trotwood has not asked voters for new operating money since 1996 is also evidence that it has managed funds well. Very few districts can go that long without asking for a levy.
The district’s revenue has been badly hurt in the past two years. The foreclosure spike has caused tax collections for schools to plummet dramatically to 87 percent of the amount due, down from 98 percent in 2007.
At the same time, academic performance has actually improved, with the district moving from the lowest state ranking of “academic emergency” up two rungs to “continuous improvement.” That’s a good sign.
Perhaps the district would have been politically smarter to come back with a smaller levy this time. But Trotwood’s goal is to get beyond a patchwork solution. This levy should allow the district to establish long-term financial stability. Officials say they would be in the black through 2018 if the levy passes.
This a big chance for Trotwood voters to move their district ahead and perhaps set the stage for it to achieve long-term academic respectability. Rexann Wagner, a 19-year administrator with a reputation as the district’s best problem-solver, takes over as superintendent this summer.
The district’s school construction program (paid for by construction-only bonds approved by voters in 2002), is complete, giving the district state-of-the-art facilities.
A big levy is tough to swallow, but the community’s future is its kids.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: 2010 endorsements, Editorials, Education, Scott Elliott, Suburban Communities
Comments
By smoke & mirrors
April 18, 2010 9:20 AM | Link to this
No way will I vote in more taxes.Isn’t the funding of schools this way illegal now? find another way to fund your schools that are failing.maybe anther lottery..yeah right!