On Wednesday afternoon at Brimfield elementary, two lines of cars idled in the rain as parents waited for their turn to pick up their children.
Staffers ran up and down the lines of cars, collecting names of students waiting in the gym for their rides.
Traffic congestion around Field Local schools increased when the district cut busing to state minimums this year after voters rejected a school income tax in a special August election.
The district laid off half of its bus drivers and canceled transportation for high school students and students in lower grades who live within two miles of their schools. Voters rejected another levy request in November.
In March, the district will ask voters for the fourth time for new money that would avoid a deficit, eliminate fees to play sports and restore busing to all students.
The district placed a 7-mill property tax levy on the March 6 ballot on Wednesday, which was the filing deadline.
Field is one of 13 area districts with issues on the ballot.
Akron, Buckeye, Woodridge and Waterloo schools also are trying again for new money after failures in the November general election.
Field’s levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $214 a year, based on 2010 tax rates.
The owner of a $100,000 home would pay an additional $181 in the Akron district (5.9-mill levy); $209 in Woodridge (6.83-mill levy); and $243 in Waterloo (7.95-mill levy).
Buckeye schools in Medina County are attempting to pass a 1 percent income tax. Voters rejected the district’s request for a 7.9-mill property tax in November.
The district hasn’t passed a new tax for operations since 1994. Superintendent Brian Williams believes this will be the 17th attempt for new money.
The district already is in “fiscal caution” and risks “fiscal emergency” and state oversight if it cannot eliminate a $1 million deficit this June and a deficit exceeding $4 million in June 2013.
Buckeye officials hope an earned income tax will have a better chance of passing than a property tax because it spares the elderly on fixed incomes and is generally more palatable among farmers and other large property owners.
Triway, in Wayne County, also will try an earned income tax, but at 0.75 percent.
Canton Local has a 30-year school construction bond issue (8.3 mills) on the ballot to collect $43 million. It would increase school taxes by $254 annually for the owner of a $100,000 home.
Alliance, Brunswick, Cuyahoga Falls, Manchester, and Norwayne are trying to renew property tax levies. Chippewa in Wayne County is hoping to renew a 1 percent income tax.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the education blog at http://education.ohio.com/.
