An education consultant thinks the Loveland City School District Board of Education has a good chance of getting a tax hike passed next year because school officials have a reputation for good stewardship and residents have a solid grasp of fiscal realities.
What part the continuing investigation of treasurer Jill Manville, now on administrative leave, will play in the process is unknown, Roger Effron of Madeira told the school board at a recent special session about whether to ask voters to approve a levy that would generate the revenue needed to offset expected costs.
But, “I’m a strong believer in what levies boil down to is confidence in the school district and a good campaign,” Effron said.
On Nov. 27, the school board agreed to meet Dec. 4 to consider a vote on the issue, with most elected and appointed officials seeming to favor a property tax hike of 7.5 mills for the March ballot. That would give the district a year-end balance of about $5.6 million in fiscal year 2009 - which begins in July 2008 and would be the first year of collecting the new money - and a good three years of breathing room.
“I think we need to go out in March, that we need to run that campaign, and we need to win it,” Superintendent Kevin Boys said.
Some board members said they feared voters who’ve had to tighten their belts at home and on the job would react unfavorably to a requested tax hike over 7.5 mills.
Other school officials said the district would do well to explain that the schools - just like families and businesses - have been hard-hit by inflation in costs such as fuel.
Communications Coordinator Meg Krsacok said the district’s diesel fuel costs from July through November during the 2004-2005 school year were $67,715. and rose to $111,447 during the same time period in 2005-2006. The comparable number for this school year dropped to $96,468.
She credits that to replacing old buses when possible with new, more fuel-efficient buses, making fewer stops along bus routes and eliminating two routes altogether.
http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071203/NEWS01/712030345/1111/RSS1117
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