Lima board to wait on another levy attempt

LIMA - Lima school board members agreed Tuesday to not go back to voters for new operating money this year, but warned that the need for new funds has not gone away.

"We will at one point be coming back to our community because there still is a need," board President Sandra Monfort said.

Citing a recent telephone survey of 300 residents, board members said they needed to listen to and respect voters.

"The survey clearly states that people support the Lima city schools and they want us to continue to do a good job, but they cannot support a levy," C. Ann Miles said.

Board members are also concerned that trying again for new money would put a renewal levy likely on the ballot in November in jeopardy. The survey showed that 62.7 percent would be very likely to support the renewal

The board needed to decide by Thursday if it wanted to get on the Aug. 5 ballot. It approved three resolutions last week to begin the process of possibly doing so to raise $2.15 million

The options were a 6.9 mill property tax, the same rejected in March, that would keep the district out of a deficit until 2012, or 0.75 percent traditional or earned-income taxes that would keep the district out of a deficit until 2011.

Treasurer Ryan Stechschulte said current projections show that the district can stay out of a deficit until the 2009-10 school year. The biggest factor that could have an impact is enrollment.

Tuesday was the first time the board agreed on a levy-related issue since first going to voters in November. Bobbi McGinnis has voted against asking for a property tax, believing an income tax is fairer.

All board members agreed last week to at least look at an income tax, even though the majority believes a property tax would be best. McGinnis, though, would not support the property tax resolution.

McGinnis thanked the board Tuesday for listening to the voters.

"Regardless of which levy you like or how you want to raise funds, there just isn't support for an increase at this time," she said. "The economy is in a bad state. People have about all they can handle right now to get through it."

When asked in the survey why the last levy failed, 48 percent said because of higher taxes, and 33.3 percent said because of the impact levies have on people with fixed incomes. Only 9.7 percent said they would support a $300 tax increase, 20 percent would support a $200 increase and 63 percent would support a $50 increase.

The survey also showed that 66.7 percent believed their neighbors would vote against an income tax. Just fewer than 62 percent said the same regarding a property tax.

Fifty-two percent of voters rejected a five-year, 6.9 mill property tax in March. Sixty-one percent said no to a levy in November.

Before the levy request, the board approved $915,279 in cuts to come next school year if it failed. They include two administrators, 11 teachers, a nurse, three classified staff and six coaches. The board already made $409,000 in reductions, including six employees, following the November levy failure.

Monfort stressed Tuesday that the district has reduced 110 positions since 2003, saying the district has been fiscally prudent, but is now at the bare-bones.