BY SANDY THEIS
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - The president of a citizens group that helped pass a ballot issue for term limits and defeat one for casino gambling is considering a new initiative designed to overturn the Ohio Supreme Court's school funding ruling.

''We're definitely looking at this,'' David Zanotti, president of the Cleveland-based Ohio Roundtable, said in an interview Monday.

''The court ruling goes beyond judicial activism and borders on what I would call judicial tyranny.''

In a 4-to-3 decision last week, the high court declared the current school funding formula unconstitutional and gave legislators one year to devise a new statewide system.

Top Republican leaders have lambasted the court majority, with Gov. George Voinovich calling the decision ''judicial activism at its extreme.''

On Friday, Mr. Voinovich appointed a seven-member bipartisan task force designed to review options and present recommendations to the GOP-controlled General Assembly. He and top Republican legislative leaders have said that seeking a constitutional amendment to nullify the court ruling is among the options under review.

Sen. Ben Espy, D-Columbus and a task force member, questioned the governor's sincerity.

''If Mr. Zanotti is doing this in concert with the governor, then I think the governor's task force would end up being a sham,'' Mr. Espy said.

Whether Mr. Zanotti is working in tandem with the governor remains unclear.

He discussed the idea last week with Voinovich spokesman Mike Dawson. Mr. Dawson described the conversation as ''a courtesy call.''

Despite Mr. Dawson's recollection, Mr. Zanotti said Monday afternoon that he had not spoken with the governor or his staff. He telephoned later in the day to say he had just spoken with Mr. Voinovich.

He declined to discuss details of the conversation, but said, ''I think we're seeing a significant number of similar concerns.''

Mr. Dawson said the governor is neither encouraging nor discouraging Mr. Zanotti.

''There's going to be a lot of ideas floated by a variety of different people,'' Mr. Dawson said. ''The governor's focus right now is on putting together this task force.''

The Supreme Court ruling could pose political trouble for Mr. Voinovich, who plans to run for the U.S. Senate next year.

Many experts believe the court ruling - unless overturned by voters - would force a major tax hike.

Mr. Zanotti said he is considering a number of options for next year's ballot.

When asked to describe the most viable option, he suggested a constitutional amendment that would ''write the court out of the school funding business and re-establish that the right to fund schools remains with the local people and their elected officials.''

Mr. Zanotti's non-profit, conservative group has a good track record on ballot issues.

In 1992, the Ohio Roundtable spearheaded efforts to impose term limits on legislators, members of Congress and statewide officials. The issues passed and enjoyed support from Mr. Voinovich.

Last year, the Ohio Roundtable teamed up with Mr. Voinovich and other top GOP officials to defeat a proposal to allow riverboat gambling in Ohio.