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Medina needs funds for staffing; Stow seeks new revenue
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal
Published on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008
Last May, Medina County voters approved a sales tax increase to fund construction and capital purchases — but not operations — in the county's public school districts.
The Medina City district is using its share of the proceeds to build two elementary schools and move 800 students out of temporary classroom trailers.
The district already has the teachers to staff the schools, but needs new operating money to hire a principal, two secretaries, a chief custodian and two custodians per building, plus specialized staff in speech pathology, art and music.
So less than a year later, Medina City voters again are being asked for a tax increase — this time, a 6.9-mill operating levy.
Most of the dozen Akron-Canton area school districts that are asking voters for new money on March 4 had tax issues on the ballot last November.
Stow-Munroe Falls is seeking a 6.5-mill, five-year levy.
The campaign reminds voters that the 7.61-mill renewal levy that passed in November brings in no new revenue and didn't raise taxes. The last new tax was passed in 2002.
The new money the district is seeking would pay for all-day kindergarten, smaller classes and special-education and computer-maintenance personnel.
Another district that's going back to the voters after a successful levy campaign last fall is Marlington in Stark County.
Voters there passed an 8.5-mill, five-year renewal levy in November for operating expenses, but the district now faces $1.2 million in cuts if it can't bring in new money to offset inflation.
''Even if this levy passes, we're going to cut $600,000 out of our operating budget,'' Marlington Treasurer Robert Foss said.
Marlington already plans to cut 17 positions (about half of them teachers) out of a staff of 345. If the levy doesn't pass, the district could lose two more teachers and 17 other employees.
Several other area districts are trying again in March after rejections last year.
The Plain school district hasn't received new tax money since 1996. In November, the district failed to pass a five-year levy of 5.5 mills. That amount was sought in the hope that a state solution to school funding was just around the corner.
This time, Plain is no longer looking to Columbus for help and is asking for a 6.9-mill increase.
''We're all just accepting the fact that there isn't going to be any solution that's imminent,'' said Plain's treasurer and chief fiscal officer, Kathleen Jordan.
If the levy doesn't pass, the district probably will need to cut $1.7 million in expenses next year, which could include losing 10 more teaching positions (in addition to 23 already eliminated), Jordan said.
Barberton tries again
In Barberton last November, voters essentially turned down about $43 million in state money for new school buildings when they rejected a 6.9-mill bond issue that also would have helped pay for improvements to other buildings.
To be eligible for state construction money, districts must pay a portion of the cost.
Now Barberton officials are returning to voters with a smaller request — 6.1 mills.
''I think that will help and that was really the community input in the process,'' said Ryan Pendleton, Barberton treasurer. ''The millage was reduced to reflect two pieces of the project that aren't in it anymore.''
The district now plans to renovate, rather than replace, the stadium and a proposal to build an administration building has been scrapped. The previous issue would have raised $39.9 million. The scaled-down bond issue would raise $34.2 million.
New approaches
Tallmadge and Northwest also are trying different approaches.
Tallmadge voters defeated a proposed income tax by almost 63 percent last November. The tax would have raised $3.2 million a year for operating expenses. This time, Tallmadge is trying a property tax increase — an 8.9-mill, five-year operating levy expected to raise about $3.8 million.
In November, the Northwest district failed for the sixth time to persuade voters in the Canal Fulton-Clinton area to replace a 6-mill levy originally passed in 1970. So this time, the district is trying for an income tax and hoping for better luck than Tallmadge had.
The 0.75 percent income tax for district residents would apply only to earned income (wages and salaries) and not retirement plans, pensions or Social Security. The tax would be $75 for each $10,000 in taxable income.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792, 800-777-7232 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Last May, Medina County voters approved a sales tax increase to fund construction and capital purchases — but not operations — in the county's public school districts.
Get the full article here.
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