Events Calendar
In This Section
New eateries expand menu of options
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Veterans describe rewards, sacrifices
Sentencing hearing in Twinsburg officer's killing to begin Thursday
WWII veteran honored through hospice program
Zips fit well together for a victory
Don't expect Zips' exhibition game to be pretty
Microsoft to upgrade portal to boost Bing
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
New eateries expand menu of options
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Family found dead in Ohio home
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
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.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
