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Wyoming is once again Ohio’s No. 1 school district, according to the state’s recently released (2008-2009) school report cards. Wyoming scored 110 points out of a possible 120.
Other highly-ranked Greater Cincinnati districts:
- Madeira (fourth, 109.5 points)
- Indian Hill (fifth, 109 points)
- Mason (sixth, 108.9 points)
- Mariemont (10th, 107.7 points)
Source: Cinti. Enquirer: September 6, 2009
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The Wyoming school board Monday rejected a (teacher union) proposal that would have raised the base salaries of its teachers by 2.8 percent this school year and 3.3 percent for each of the next two school years. The raises would have been in addition to “step’ raises many teachers receive after passing various educational and longevity milestones.
The average step increase at Wyoming is 3.1 percent annually, officials said. The Wyoming Education Association in July rejected the board’s offer of a 2 percent annual raise, a $1,000 stipend and some health concessions. District Treasurer Brian Rabe said that proposal would necessitate a 6-mill levy proposal in 2012 while the union’s proposal would require 10 mills.”
Source: Wyoming teachers don’t get a raise. THE ENQUIRER. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009.
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Read New Page New Bond Issue
Read New Page School District Plays Numbers Game
Read New Page Five Year Forecast
Read New Page Step Raise
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BLOATED COST STRUCTURE
The following chart shows the spending per pupil for each of Ohio’s 116 school districts rated “excellent with distinction” for the 2008-2009 school year, except two. Some local districts are noted. For example, Loveland’s cost per student is $9,445. That is also the median – the point at which half of the districts spend more and half spend less. Sycamore’s $13,523 cost per student is $4,078 more than the median.
If Sycamore’s bloated cost structure were reduced to the median of excellent with distinction districts, taxes would be reduced by more than $22 million annually, i.e. 5413 students times $4,078 equals $22,074,214.
Sycamore $13,523; Median $9,445; Milford $8,441; Loveland $9,445; Lakota $9,503; Mason $10,528; Wyoming $10,705; Kings $10,765; Madeira $10,961.
INDIAN HILL
School Tax Increase Opposed
Several residents opposed a potential tax hike during the 11/10 board meeting. The school is considering moving 1.25 mills of inside millage to fund permanent improvements.
The state allows for an inside millage move for operating expenses wihtout a public vote.
“It is a tax,” said Ken Miller. “In todays environment if it went out to the public it would be shot down.”
School board members said moving the inside millage is necessary because of expected funding reductions from the state of Ohio as well as anticipated decline in real estate valuations resulting in less money coming in from property taxes. …state funding reductions could result in a potential loss of $400,000 to $1 million over time.
Miller said the board should consider pulling the money from the cash reserves. .. it’s anticipated that $24 million will be in next years cash reserve.
Board members said the millage may not be permanent. Indian Hill resident Fred Sanborn said “the public should have a right to decide. What I want to get across is this should be put before voters.”
The board will likely vote on the millage move Tuesday 7 p.m. at the high school.
Source: December 10, 2009 Enquirer
Indian Hill school tax hike faces opposition
..Indian Hill residents may support the schools, but many say they don’t want a tax hike...The Board of Education was scheduled to vote on moving 1.25 mills of inside millage at the Dec. 15 meeting.
..The millage move would generate $1.7 milllion annually for the district and cost the owner of a home with a market value of $500,000 an additional $218.75 per year starting in 2011.
..State law allows school districts to raise additional money specifically for improvements (textbooks, computers, buses and repairs and improvements to facilities) through a millage designation without a public vote.
..”I’m opposed to a tax increase,” said resident Dick Bailey. “I just believe we should look at more efficiencies, and tax increases are gateways to further inefficiences.”
..Resident Phyllis Thayer said although she has heard positive comments regarding I. H. schools she does not support a tax hike.
..”I would certainly not like a propertry tax increase,” she said. “I’m not sure I. H. schools need additional money.”
..Resident Mark Kuenning also had concerns.
..”In this economic environment, I think it would be unwise to put forward either a direct property tax increase or any millage move that would result in an increased property tax,” he said.
..Board President Barb Hopewell said the inside millage move is necessary.
..”We are aware there might be some opposition, but we need to make a decision to offset our decreasing revenues,” she said.
..Hopewell said the millage amount which will be voted on would not be permanent, and future boards would have an opportunity to revisit the matter each year.
..”Moving inside millage is just one of a three-pronged approach to manage our financial picture which includes reducing costs and using some of our reserve funds,” she said.
Source: Northeast Suburban Life, December 16, 2009. By Forrest Sellers fsellers@communitypress.com.
Forest Hills skips levy attempt
…Forest Hills School District has decided not to field an operating levy on the May 4 ballot. The district lost a 6.9-mill levy last May. School board members on Monday discussed the need and timing for another levy.
…The projected $787,000 deficit in 2011-12 is small enough that belt tightening might be enough to delay the levy as long as possible, said Treasurer Rick Toepfer.
…This spring, Toepfer and the board will re-evaluate the need for a levy in August, November or possibly delaying it until 2011. From December 2008 to July 2009, more than $26.5 million was reduced from estimated expenditures for the fiscal years 2009-10 through 2012-13. Steps taken include:
-A freeze on all staff base salaries for 2009-10.
-A reduction in staffing of 47.52 full-time equivalents.
-Increase in class size guideline.…There is no increase in FY 2009-10 health insurance costs
Source: The Enquirer, January 15, 2010
A Kings resident sent this messsage to the Kings school board 1/21/10 about their first vote on placing a new levy on the ballot.
Dear Kings School Board,
I hope the Board will reconsider your vote for the following reasons.
The Kings school district will have 20% cash balance as of this July .
State guidelines recommend keeping at least 6% Given this fact, how can you claim you have stretched our money when our revenues increased 27% since 2004 and our spending increased by 31%. As I stated at the meeting a levy can be postponed by asking our empoyee’s to freeze their salaries to include steps wages. How can you ask more money from the community when so many of us are struggling?? Are you aware our school district has a 10% proverty rate, the median income in Kings is only around $42,000 and declining with 50% of our community having college degrees, while our ave. teachers salary
is now $59,000 . Are you aware food assistance allocations have increased by 60% in Warren county since last Feb. Please do what is in the best interest of our community.I have trust and faith in our teachers if they see leadership from our superintendent they will do what’s right for our community. Ask our superintendent to lead the way by taking a pay freeze just like my superintendent did 25 years ago. Our projections should not show a 22% increase in spending. Have the treasurer change them and we no longer need this levy !! Just give us a break!!! Thanks, I would appreciate a response.
RESIDENT QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF TAX HIKE
By Forrest Sellers, Northeast Suburban Life. January 27, 2010
IH resident Fred Sanborn said a recent millage move by the IH school district is illegal. The move is not legally justified.
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Sanborn referred to a section of Ohio’s Revised Code which states, “no tax rate shall be levied above that necessary to produce the revenue needed by the taxing district or political subdivision for the ensuing fiscal year … unless such rate of taxation for the ensuing fiscal year is clearly required.”
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Sanborn said, “(There) is no way this district is running out of money,” citing the district’s reserve fund.
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The district is expected to have $24 million in the cash reserve fund by June of next year.
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“Why didn’t (the district) dig into the reserve instead of passing the inside millage,” said resident Jim Troppman.
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Board members gave these reasons: “the district has a proactive financial planning approach”; It has always been a prudent logical effort to have a reserve fund”; With our projections, we could burn through our reserve fund in a short period of time”; Board members also said these decisions are being made to try and avoid exhausting funds and putting an operating levy on the ballot.