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Larger cuts expected if Carlisle fails to pass levy

District learns state funding will be $194K less than expected.

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By Steven Matthews, Staff Writer 1:49 AM Wednesday, February 15, 2012

CARLISLE — In less than three weeks, the Carlisle Local School District will ask voters to pass a bond issue and an income tax for operations.

But what was initially believed to be $500,000 in cuts at stake has now ballooned to a potential $800,000 in reductions if the combination levy on the March 6 ballots fails.

District officials received word last week that it would receive $194,000 less than expected in state revenue due to enrollment declining, Superintendent Larry Hook said. Carlisle receives $4,212 per student and enrollment dropped by 46 students from last year to this year. More than 1,700 students are in the district.

“I’ll call anybody to task who uses the phrase spend within your means,” Hook said. “Not when costs continue to rise. It’s hard to stay within your means when the state is reducing the money you get. What are you supposed to do? All they’re doing is cut, cut, cut, and pushing it back down to the local level. It’s not just in Carlisle. It’s everywhere.”

The same combination levy — bond issue ($28.1 million) and income tax increase (0.75 percent) — was on the ballot in November, and was rejected by voters, 57 to 43 percent in Warren County.

If it passes, the bond issue will cost an owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $21 a month, while the 0.75 percent income tax increase will generate $1.3 million annually. Collections would begin in January 2013. New programs would not be added; rather, it is to maintain the current services.

But if it fails again, among the $800,000 in cuts would be: nine teachers; classified positions; classroom aides; increased athletic and student fees; and a reduced bus route.

“It’s real serious,” school board President Bill Jewell said. “We’d have some deep cuts to make. It’s probably one of the most critical times we’ve faced in years that I can recall.”

The district has cut $1.5 million from its budget the last five years — about the same time it was placed in fiscal watch. Those reductions include an assistant superintendent, business manager, assistant principals and classified staff.

Carlisle’s current budget is $14 million annually. The last time the district asked for new money was a permanent improvement replacement levy in 2001.

“If we can’t get something passed here, (cutting) is our only alternative,” Hook said. “It’s not a threat. It’s not anything other than we’ve got no choice.”

While locally the bond issue would raise $28.1 million if it is approved, the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission would then contribute $29.8 million for a new K-12 building that would open in the fall of 2015. That $57.9 million figure also covers the cost of renovations to the stadium, a new performing arts center, demolition, road improvements and landscaping.

There are no community meetings planned, Hook said, but Carlisle residents will either receive a postcard or newsletter in the mail in the next couple of weeks.

“I don’t think it’s a question of people not knowing what’s going on,” Hook said. “We put out more information in the fall. The information is the same. The difference is the impact of failure.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or steven.matthews@coxinc.com.

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