Sycamore Taxpayer
Demanding Fiscal Responsibility
Sycamore taxpayers accept their obligations and are grateful for the quality education students receive from the Sycamore School District. We are proud of our students, teachers, and many others that make this a wonderful community.
During the last decade, spending increases continued while enrollment dropped. During the same period, the district has not focused enough attention toward becoming more efficient. This has resulted in a district with an extraordinarily high expenditure level and cost per student. The 2004 cost-cutting measures were a good beginning movement toward a more fiscally responsible school system. The district has held the cps to 2004 levels, but the current and future spending levels remain exorbitant.
The Sycamore school district has placed a 5.5-mill ”permanent” continuous levy on the May 2009 ballot. If this “permanent” continuous levy passes, can taxpayers expect the district to aggressively reduce costs and become more efficient? We believe history says no!
We would support a tax levy only if Sycamore’s five-year forecast results in a reduced cost per student to a level of our academic peers. Our concern is that the Board is asking the voters to approve a “permanent” continuous levy without making an adequate cost efficiency commitment and adjustment.
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY
Reasons:
1. Spending level remains excessive! Sycamore’s $13,159 cost per student is higher than 96% of all 614 traditional Ohio school districts, and higher than 69 of the 74 “Excellent with Distinction” districts. This spending difference costs local property owners millions yearly. The FY2013 forecasted Total Expenditures and other Financing Uses level reaches $85.6 million, a whopping $14 million increase over $71.6 million spent last school year.
2. Continuous levy! Making the renewal tax levy continuous can be one way to minimize being held accountable to taxpayers and the community for the exorbitant spending level.
3. A levy is not needed! It can be delayed two years because of a $39 million cash reserve. We believe there are sufficient funds in the Treasurer’s Five Year Forecast that would allow them to spend what they projected and still not need a new levy. A projected FY2010 beginning cash balance of $39.1 million is enough to carry the district through the 2010-2011 school year — without revenue from this new levy.
4. Pay lower tax rate! The existing 5.5-mill (4.513 effective rate) limited levy expires 12/31/09, dropping the effective tax rate 14.8% from 30.486 mills to 25.973. This levy currently costs a $200,000 market value home owner $268 annually. If the continuous levy is not passed in calendar year 2009, then the tax rate and the tax revenue will decrease in 2010. Vote NO to insure you pay the lower tax rate!
Teachers salaries are excessive and unconscionable in this economy. There are some districts where teachers are taking a voluntary CUT in salary or at least foregoing raises. The Sycamore teacher’s union is out of control and needs to be given a reality check.
School levies clash with tough economy. Enquirer story 4/25/09
CLICK ON:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090425/NEWS0102/904260348/1055/NEWS
First of all, SPENDING HAS NOT INCREASED!! The school’s budget remains essentially unchanged from the 2004 budget. How many of us homeowners could say that our personal spending budgets are as they were in 2004 … this includes the increased costs of fuel, groceries, health care, etc., just as it does for the schools.
Secondly, the schools are NOT asking for more money. They are asking for a continuation of what they currently get. It would be as if you were asking your employer to continue to pay you at your 2004 salary level!
Thirdly, yes, these economic times are tough. No one, including the School district wants to be ‘asking for money’ at this particular time. However, at a time when the school district is about all that is holding our housing values at the level they are, I find it absurd that people would take the $400 in their pockets each year over maintaining their property value. Considerably short sighted indeed!! Now is the time that all homeowners should be doing whatever they can to keep their property values as high as possible.
And I haven’t even touched on what our schools are doing for our youth – which is the future of our community.
THE ONLY REASONABLE CHOICE IS TO VOTE YES ON MAY 5TH!!!
There is no relationship between the level of school spending and quality of education. I came from a poor county, and I know that money is not the only issue.
I do not like the road sign, saying “Vote yes will not increase your tax”. This is misleading. Vote yes will not ADD a new tax, but it will INCREASE your tax. I would say that vote “NO” will reduce your tax.
First off, schools should not be funded by homeowners. If the “benefits everyone” argument is valid, why isn’t if funded by everyone, with like a sales tax that everyone has to pay.
Secondly, these levies shouldn’t come up all the time. When they fail, they need to go away for 5 years.
Thirdly, we need more marketing for this. Peter, email me next time and lets put a TV commercial together. I can do it cheap and it will kick butt. Please email me.
Thanks,
Steve
Blue Ash
These levies re-appear immediately when defeated because the school boards have a tried-and-true template.
If at first you don’t succeed, start cancelling bus service and sports.
They’ll come around…..
These folks are barracudas and they know just how to remove your organs before you know they’re gone.