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School operating levy moves toward May ballot
(by Sue Hoffman - January 13, 2010)
School operating levy moves toward May ballot
By SUE HOFFMAN
The Solon School Board approved the first of two resolutions Monday to place a 6.9-mill operating levy on the May 4 ballot.
The resolution will be submitted to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's Office, which will verify the district's tax valuation and the dollar amount the levy would produce. The school board plans to vote Jan. 25 on the second resolution, which will be submitted to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to place the levy on the ballot.
"We knew this was coming for over a year," School Superintendent Joseph V. Regano said. Referring to a chart, he said it was about a year ago that the district's revenue and expenditure lines crossed.
"We're now spending more than we're taking in," he said, and the district is using its savings to pay the rest.
The district's previous operating levy, in May 2005, was approved by 65 percent of the voters.
"The constant thing that hasn't changed is the way we fund schools," Mr. Regano said. Since school revenues are not permitted by law to grow, districts have to return to voters for a levy, he said.
Mr. Regano said the 6.9-mill levy in 2005 generated $8.9 million a year. The same millage will generate approximately $8.1 million a year currently, he said, because of the reduced property valuation which has occurred in the housing market. He said the lost revenue "will have to be absorbed through employee contracts.
"This is not business as usual," Mr. Regano said. "Employees have been told that. If there are raises, they will be quite different."
Teachers are now in the second year of a three-year contract. Negotiations for a new contract will begin in spring 2011.
The levy will cost homeowners $211 per year for each $100,000 of valuation. Senior citizens and people who are permanently disabled are given by law a $25,000 homestead exemption on the total value of their property.
"This wasn't a knee-jerk reaction," Treasurer Timothy Pickana said. He said generally, a levy is put before voters when the revenue and expenditure lines cross. "That happened last year, and reductions were made, he said. "It's not just hitting us today. We've done our best to make ends meet."
Mr. Regano said a levy is needed to continue the excellence in the schools that the community wants, and help homeowners retain their property values.
"People come to Solon for education," board member Marilyn Thomas said. She said the board has made cuts in expenditures over the last few years to stretch the previous levy.
School board member Julie Glavin said there's "an imperative need" for the levy now. "We will work diligently to help."
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