BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DAYTON, Ohio -- Two candidates running for the state school board owe back taxes, the Dayton Daily News reported Wednesday.
Board member Diana Fessler and her husband, Robert, owed $20,519 in back federal income taxes, according to legal documents filed in 1995 and 1996, the newspaper said.
As of June 4, the couple owed $694.95 in back Ohio income taxes, the report said. Mrs. Fessler said the state debt had been paid but she was unable to produce the document needed to erase that debt from court records.
Candidate John Griffin, whom Mrs. Fessler unseated in 1994, owes $1,095.24 in property taxes on four parcels of land in Montgomery County, according to county treasurer records. Mr. Griffin, of Germantown, is making payments on part of the bill.
Mrs. Fessler and Mr. Griffin could not be reached for comment Wednesday. No one answered the phone at their homes despite repeated calls.
Mrs. Fessler, of New Carlisle, also told the Daily News that last year, the family paid $30,000 in back taxes. She said the family still owes the federal government money, but that the debt is only interest and penalties.
The newspaper said court records showed no tax problems for P. Michael Robinette, the third school board candidate from the 3rd District, which covers Montgomery, Preble and Butler counties and part of Miami County.
"When you consider that we have been living with what I call the school funding crisis for a number of years, I think it's very disappointing when you have two people who profess to want to represent the interests of our children and public schools not taking care of their tax liabilities," Mr. Robinette said.
The state board of education oversees the Ohio Department of Education and its budget, and sets policy on matters including course content, graduation requirements and proficiency testing. Ohio schools are funded primarily with state income taxes and local property taxes, but also receive federal money.
Mrs. Fessler said failure to pay the outstanding bills does not hurt public schools. "To my knowledge, schools are not funded with IRS interest and penalty payments," she said.
The tax delinquencies, she said, stemmed from long-term financial problems for the family and with her husband's company.
"We are definitely people of modest means," she said. "You get a little bit behind on something, (and) it's very difficult to catch up. We have six children. Sometimes we had a choice between the necessities and the IRS, and you know who won."
