Thursday, December 09, 1999
CPS facing tough decision on levies
District may be forced to cut up to $18 million
BY DANA DiFILIPPO
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Public Schools will have to cut $18 million from its budget in the 2000-01 school year if voters don't pass a levy in March, district Treasurer Richard Gardner told the school board Wednesday.
If the district passes a 6.5-mill, $35.1 million levy, no cuts would be needed, said Lynn Marmer, who chairs the board's equitable resources committee.
That would cover inflation, restore last spring's $180-per-pupil cut and fix buildings, Ms. Marmer said. It also would improve academics by reducing class size and beefing up spending on reading in kindergarten through third grade, and alleviate the $30 million spending gap between neighborhood and magnet schools, she added.
Mr. Gardner presented his projections Wednesday for how the district would be affected by various levy alternatives.
Besides seeking a tax increase, the district also needs to renew two levies — for $19.4 million and $46 million — that will expire in the next two years.
Board members haven't decided whether to seek the tax increase and renewals in March or postpone the renewals until later elections. They also haven't decided how big a tax increase they'll seek.
They plan to vote Monday. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be 7 p.m. at district headquarters, 2651 Burnet Ave., Corryville.
A 6.5-mill levy would boost the annual tax bill for a $75,000 house about $150. It would raise about $140 million over four years.
Voters defeated a 4.5-mill, $24 million levy last month; most was a tax increase. That would have boosted the tax bill $103.
If the board decides to pursue a 4.5-mill levy again in March, the district still would have to cut $4.6 million, Mr. Gardner noted.
Officials have said they would try to confine cuts to administrative spending.
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