District To Put 15.6-Mil Levy On Ballot
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Reynoldsburg Levy
Residents will vote on whether or not to raise taxes during a recession.
NBC 4
Reynoldsburg residents soon will make a difficult decision: Vote on whether or not to raise taxes during a recession to benefit their children’s educations.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio—Reynoldsburg residents soon will make a difficult decision: Vote on whether or not to raise taxes during a recession to benefit their children’s educations.
NBC 4’s Tom Brockman reported on WHERE IT STANDS.
These days, conversation at Max’s Barbershop in Reynoldsburg revolves largely around one topic.
“Every day I’m working, there’s somebody talking about the ballot, about the taxes and so forth,“ Pat Mann said.
Reynoldsburg City Schools planned to put a 15.6-mil operating levy on the May 5 ballot.
Officials said it would generate $12 million a year for the district and cost the owner of a $100,000 home nearly $500 more in property taxes a year.
“With our operating levy, we’re not getting much more. We are getting those operating funds to maintain what we have,“ campaign committee co-chair Tamara Ligon said.
Last March, voters approved a $56 million bond issue but turned down a 6.9-mil operating levy in November.
Officials said they haven’t received any additional operating funds since 1997, and since then, the district has built or is in the process of building five schools and has added 2,000 students.
School officials said if this levy doesn’t pass, they’ll take an $11 million hit and they will have to cut Kindergarten through sixth-grade art and music classes and phys ed.
“We stand to lose a lot without this operating levy,“ Ligon said.
Mann said many of his customers were against it, especially in today’s economy.
“They think it’s too high for one thing—the ballot. Very few people saying, I’d vote for that in a minute.‘ Very few.“
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Reader Reactions
I would like to respond to rod13, regarding the Reynoldsburg Schools Operating Funds levy. When the Construction Bond levy campaign was underday, I was not involved in any way in that campaign, although I did support the bond by voting for it. I recall reading in local weekly news interviews with the school superintendent, that an operational levy would also be needed in the near future, as there had not been an operational levy requested since 1997. There seemed to be no intent to hide that fact, and also no attempt to stress it - it was simply laid on the table as one of many facts shared with the public.
The operating funds estimated to be needed to open the newly constructed buildings, when they are constructed, is estimated at $3 million dollars, which is equivalent to 4.56 mills of the operating levy. If the levy does not pass, then obviously there will be no money to open the new schools, but every school will also incur severe cuts in staffing, program, and services.
You have suggested closing one of the older elementary schools to save money - that action is already planned, when the new elementary school is built.
If you support the schools, please show that support by funding them. I hope you do not feel “held ransom” to do so, but that you will agree that the cuts necessary to balance the budget without the levy, are simply unacceptable.
I would like to respons to “Anonymous” who asked me to convince him to vote for Reynoldsburg Schools’ Operating Levy. If it adds to my credibility, although indeed I am one of the people who has to sell this, I am also somewhat elderly, retired, on a fixed income, and have no children in the school district. But as a homowner in Reynoldsburg, I support the school district. I support the schools because I value schools, and I value education, and that is why I volunteered to help promote public awareness of the critical need for the levy, to preserve good education in Reynoldsburg public schools. I hope you will read the memo sent by the School Superintendant to the School Board, detailing the cuts that will have to be made, if the May 5 levy fails. This memo can be viewed at www.savereysd.com, from the “More Information” tab. If you read this memo, I think you will understand the education of today’s students will be shrunk to unacceptable levels, if the districdt has to make the cuts described therein.
I have no issue with supporting the schools however I do have an issue with being forced or held ransom to support the schools. The board should have made the public aware (those who weren’t aware) that in order to build a new high school and another elementary school there would be a need for a new operating levy. It’s only common sense however it’s obvious that some didn’t realize that since the bond to build the new schools passed however the operating levy keeps failing. I think the board hasn’t been as wise to make better use of our tax dollars. For example what is the point of busing kids from the Main and Taylor area to the old junior high school rather than to the new one which is obviously much closer? This is obviously a waste of money when it comes to paying for the diesel fuel for our buses as well as the wear and tear. I would be interested in seeing what would be the cost savings in gas should the board look to a more logical rezoning for the schools. However rezoning may show the public that there isn’t a need for another elementary school. Which brings up another question, is another elementary school really needed? Couldn’t the district save money if they were to close one of the older schools such as Graham Road? You already have Slate Ridge Elementary School nearby as well as Rosehill. Or maybe instead of building new schools they should look to either adding on to the existing ones or building bigger more modern ones to replace some of the existing.
ChristineSmith, I’m sure your speech would play well in a gym packed with parents of school age kids, it might even get a standing ovation. But many won’t be there to hear it. Step down from your soapbox, turn off the stirring background music and tell me why I should vote FOR this levy. If you are one of the people who has to sell this you are going to need more than rhetoric. How are you going to convince the elderly, the retired, the childless and those barely getting by that this levy has to be passed? Consider me to be the unconvinced Reynoldsburg residents and make your case. If you can sway me maybe you have a chance.
The operating funds levy is needed to avoid severe cuts in educational services, and prevent a decline of Reynoldsburg into a modern “dark age.” I believe the school district administration has long tried to live within its means, cutting services in every area, while attempting to maintain a quality education for Reynoldsburg students.
It is the moral and ethical duty of a community to support the education of the children of that community and it is the law in the state of Ohio that property taxes are the means of funding local schools. It is in the community’s long-term self-interest to have good schools. A community that would steal educational opportunities from its children in favor of its own purported self-interest, will reap a generation of ill-educated, unengaged, and uncultured young adults. Students deprived of a proper education will make poor citizens, literally and figuratively. They will be unprepared to move a community forward, unprepared to move themselves into successful and fulfilling lives. They will not have been taught the value of education, and their ignorance will propel their community into economic, cultural, civic, and social decline.
When times are tough, a family will put the needs of its children above all competing priorities. A community must do the same. The education of Reynoldsburg children should not be abandoned because it will require a sacrifice on the part of Reynoldsburg citizens. Instead, responsible citizens must support the school district that educates its children – even if it requires an uncomfortable belt-tightening.
I understand that schools need money to operate, but what happens when residents can no longer afford to pay their property taxes and get foreclosed on? Will the school district be any better off with fewer residents paying taxes? I also think that voting on property tax increases should be limited to those who own property in that district.
Levy proponents are breaking this down to a daily cost of $1.31. Unfortunately I’m not allowed to pay this on a daily basis. This will increase my taxes to $4,000 yearly. As a property owner with no children in Reynoldsburg schools what incentive do I have to vote FOR this? I grew up in Grove City so no Reynoldsburg School District funds went toward my education. My daughter attended the Catholic school so in addition to paying into Reynoldsburg SD we also paid her tuition. Our choice and we don’t begrudge the public school its money. But now why should we vote to increase our taxes?
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