Cincinnati Public Schools will likely ask voters to approve at least a 5-mill, 4-year levy in November that would generate $29.8 million annually.
The board of education discussed the levy amount Monday, and whether it would be enough to restore previous cuts and implement a host of new education initiatives.
Lynn Marmer, the board's finance committee chairwoman, said the levy amount is an attempt to balance student needs with school building needs.
The 5-mill levy is less than the 6.5-mill levy voters rejected in March because, she said, the district will receive more state and federal funds and made cuts to central office staff.
The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $153 a year in new taxes.
“The public told us last time that they are willing to support schools, and in my opinion we need to be respectful of that,” she said.
2 mills, or $11.94 million, for class-size reduction, to allow for classes in grades K-3 to be at a maximum of 17 students per class.
• 2 mills, or $11.94 million, to keep pace with an estimated inflation rate of 3.3 percent, as well as textbook and staffing costs.
• 1 mill, or $5.97 million, for building maintenance.
The 5-mill levy would carry the district through 2004. The district would show a deficit of $15 million in 2005. Having no new levy would put the district in the red by 2002, with a deficit of $6.8 million, said Michael Geoghegan, assistant treasurer.
“There are escalating deficits if there is no new levy,” Mr. Geoghegan said. “The picture would not be a very favorable one.”
In March, voters rejected a 6.5-mill tax increase that would raise $38.8 million annually.
At the same time, they approved a 5-year, 10.9-mill levy. That levy renewed two emergency levies and will provide $65.1 million annually.
Voters in November defeated a $24 million, 4.5-mill levy. Most of the November levy was a tax increase.
Rick Beck, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers president, said the union supports a 6.5-mill levy because it would allow the district to
reduce class size, fix buildings and support other initiatives such as an equalization of per-pupil spending at all schools.
A 5-mill levy won't make teachers and parents happy, Mr. Beck said, because the money won't last. “My concern is always that somehow if the board looks at a lower number they really put us at a risk in two or three years to continue making the cuts and shrinking the services students get at the schools,” hesaid.
Other board members also questioned if the proposed levy would fund high school restructuring, equal funding for all students and other reforms the district might want to implement in coming years.
Rick Williams, board president, said he “does not want to leave the per-pupil funding question to something that's a maybe. We need to make that equalization happen.”
Different elementary schools receive different amounts of money per student based on the pro gramming offered. Montessori schools, for example, get 13 percent more money than neighborhood elementary schools.
Brewster Rhoads, with Cincinnatians Active to Support Education, said he thinks the public will support a 5-mill levy. He would not say whether he thinks the amount is enough.
“This is more moderate than what other districts say they need,” Mr. Rhoads said, referring to 7-mill levies on the ballot today in the Norwood, Three Rivers and St. Bernard-Elmwood Place school districts.
The school district needs to ask for levies on a periodic basis because 60 percent of revenues come from property taxes, Mr. Geoghegan said. Any voted levy does not increase the amount it collects over time. For example, this past year the district collected the same amount in property taxes it received in 1996-97.
The board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to further discuss the levy amount. The board is expected to take its first vote on the issue that night.
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