FAIRFIELD — One day after Fairfield voters rejected a 5.6-mill operating levy 8,155 to 6,589, educators began looking at ways to reduce expenses.

        It was one of two school-funding issues that voters in Butler and Warren counties defeated Tuesday. A 1.25 mill bond issue for the Franklin Schools was defeated 1,742 to 1,309.

        Voters approved three other school—funding issues: a 6.5 mill incremental levy in the Kings Schools, 2,370 to 2,029; a 2-mill permanent improvement levy for the Carlisle Schools, 742-711, and a $29.9 million bond issue for Monroe Schools, 1,461 to 823, according to unofficial final results from the Butler and Warren counties' boards of elections.

        “We're going to be back (with an issue) next year. There's no question of that,” said Anne Crone, president of the Fairfield Board of Education. “This is not going to go away. We have to start looking at places to cut. It's an unfortunate situation, but what else can we do? We'll be looking at areas that don't directly impact education.”

        The district will end the school year with a balance but faces a $2 million deficit by June 2003. Had the levy passed, it would have brought in $5.9 million, enough to keep the district in the black through 2004 or longer.

        Superintendent Robert Farrell said the administrative team would begin looking at ways to cut expenses immediately and delay some purchases. He said one area that will be studied for reduction is extra-curricular activities.

        "We've already cut back by not hiring any staff this year even though we had an increase of 240 students,” Mr. Farrell said. “We have to make decisions about cuts to balance (next year's) budget and when we should go back on the ballot.”

        The Citizens for Accountability and Results in Education will again work to defeat any money issue the board puts on the ballot, said Arnold Engel, a founding member of the group who lost his bid for a seat on the Fairfield Board of Education.

        “We are not against levies,” said Mr. Engel, who plans to run again for the Fairfield Board of Education in 2003. “Our goal is to obtain an excellent and affordable education for our kids.”

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