By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DEERFIELD TWP. - Kings Schools Board of Education has come to the consensus that next May would be the earliest election to resubmit a bond issue to voters.

While no formal vote was taken at Tuesday night's regular meeting, a majority of the board agreed the school district should first address shortfalls in the operational budget.

The district is estimating a $1.4 million deficit by the end of 2006, according to its financial forecast. School officials say they want to look at cutting costs now to reduce that shortage.

"It doesn't make a lot of sense to put a bond issue on the ballot and still have this deficit hanging over our heads," Superintendent David Query said. "It's a matter of deciding what comes first."

Kings voters rejected a 4.5 mill bond issue this month, 61 percent to 39 percent. It would have funded a $43 million proposal to renovate and expand the junior-senior high campus on Columbia Road.

At least one board member and some parents have expressed hope for putting the plan back on the ballot this November.

Others have pondered revising the proposal.

The district already has started to trim the budget to address the projected deficit - a result of fewer state dollars and a tax base that is not growing as fast as anticipated - District Treasurer Michael Mowery said.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com