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Huber Heights levy soundly defeated

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By Cornelius Frolik, Staff Writer Updated 11:45 PM Tuesday, November 8, 2011

For the second time in six months, voters in Huber Heights on Tuesday overwhelmingly defeated a proposed school levy that sought to raise millions of dollars in revenue to combat a projected $2.4 million deficit in fiscal year 2013.

With about 93 percent of precincts reporting, voters rejected an 8-mill, continuous levy by the unofficial count of 73 to 27 percent. The levy would have generated $5.6 million annually and would have cost the owner of a home appraised at $100,000 about $245 annually. In May, voters defeated a 1.5 percent earned income tax levy by a 5-to-1 ratio.

Superintendent Bill Kirby said he understands the community’s reluctance to approve higher taxes given the tough economic climate, but the district will have to make drastic cuts to deal with its shrinking revenue. He said the district slashed $3 million in costs from its budget last year, but a $4 million reduction in state funds means more are required.

Kirby said he is unsure of how the school board will decide to proceed, but the district is looking at cutting $3.2 million in revenue before next school year, which will likely have to come from reducing 45 positions and may result in the elimination of school bus service for high school students. About $2 million of the reductions last year were to personnel.

“We’ve got to get down to the point where our expenditures aren’t outpacing our revenue,” he said.

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