Wednesday, August 09, 2000
Monroe, Lebanon reach tax deal on switched area
By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor
MONROE — An agreement between the Monroe and Lebanon schools will allow Lebanon to keep most of the tax revenue generated from a small piece of ground that had been in the Lebanon Schools until last month.
Although the land is actually in Monroe, it fell within the boundaries of the Lebanon School district. However, the Monroe Local School district was created by claiming the 85 acres and taking land from the Middletown Schools.
Under the agreement, 93 percent of the taxes generated from the land will be returned to the Lebanon Schools with Monroe keeping only 7 percent.
The agreement, approved Monday by the Monroe board, says families who live in the affected area can send their children to either Lebanon or Monroe, tuition-free. There are 13 children in the Lebanon Schools who are in the affected area, which is near the Corridor 75 Park at the intersection of Interstate 75 and Ohio 63.
Also provided in the agreement is the stipulation that all children in the same household must go to the same school district.
“I think it's a fair agreement,” said James W. “Bill” Sears, superintendent of the Lebanon Schools. “All along, Monroe was almost apologetic they had to take land from another district ... but that's what they had to do to form their own district. They weren't doing it for the revenue, and I think this agreement indicates they meant it.”
The Lebanon Board of Education will discuss and vote on the proposal at its Aug. 21 meeting, Mr. Sears said. Letters to the affected families will be sent out soon.
“It's never been about the money,” said Monroe board member Suzi Rubin. “We've been about choice. I think this agreement is a win for everyone because it gives them a choice where they want to go. If the children want to stay in the Lebanon Schools, they can.”
In addition to the agreement with Lebanon Schools, the Monroe board also approved a five-year contract with Petermann LTD for bus transportation.
Under the agreement the district will pay the firm $39,203 per month for the service. It includes the cost of leasing the buses, bus maintenance, paying drivers, and running 11 routes traveling five hours a day, including door-to-door service for children with special needs. Field trips will be billed at an hourly rate of $23 per bus. Every July 1, rates will increase by 4 percent.
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