Wednesday, August 18, 1999
Funding stands test of recount
Princeton district to avoid closings
BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Princeton School District officials had thought they were successful in getting voters to approve a tax increase on election day. On Tuesday, they found out for sure.
What had been a slim margin of approval became a bit wider, with the final official count, 2,886 to 2,848, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections. The unofficial count had the 3.95-mill levy passing by just 19 votes.
The votes tallied between election day and the final count announced Tuesday include “walk-in” registered voters who showed up at the polls but had not previously notified the board of elections that they were living in the Princeton district. They could also include ballots cast by military personnel serving overseas, as well as those that were found after election night.
“We are thrilled,” said Dennis Peterson, superintendent of the school district. “It lifts a big rock from our shoulders. We've been trying to get the people to understand that we need their financial support for a year and a half now. It's great to have it pass and to know we will have financial stability” for the future.
The additional levy, affecting property owners in the school district that straddles Hamilton, Butler and Warren counties, will cost the owner of an $80,000 home $96.78 in new taxes.
Without the extra operating funds, school officials said they would have had to consider job cuts, as well as consolidating or closing some of the 11 schools in Glendale, Woodlawn, Springdale, Lincoln Heights, Sharonville and Evendale.
Now they will be able to maintain current levels of operation and programs, including maintaining small class sizes. Teachers and staff raises are budgeted to be in the 2.4 percent to 3 percent range.
The additional funds will keep the schools running at current operational levels at least through the 2004-05 school year, if spending increases are kept at or below 3 percent, officials said.
The levy will raise an estimated $2.27 million in 2000 and about $6.1 million each year after that.
Voters turned down a similar ballot issue in November — in spite of the district's $30,000 marketing attempt. Signs were posted and several direct mailings sent to homes.
This time around, the district spent about $5,000 to advertise its needs.
Mayors from the six communities served by the district came out in support of the levy.
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