Billion-dollar school building projects are being planned in Cincinnati and Cleveland, but there's a big gap in what the state will contribute to each project.

        Ohio is expected to give Cleveland more than $700 million, or 68 percent of its project, to rebuild and renovate the district's public schools.

STATE vs. LOCAL

Every school district in Ohio is expected to receive some state money for their school rebuilding projects over the next decade. Following are state and local shares for selected districts:   • Akron: Local, 41 percent; state, 59 percent.   • Dayton: Local, 39 percent; state, 61 percent.   • Cincinnati: Local, 77 percent; state, 23 percent.   • Cleveland: Local, 32 percent; state, 68 percent.   • Columbus: Local, 70 percent; state, 30 percent.   • Toledo: Local, 23 percent; state, 77 percent.

        Cincinnati Public Schools, meanwhile, is in line for just over $200 million, or 23 percent, from the state for its project.

        The state-to-local-share breakdown is based on an average amount of a district's property valuation divided by the number of students in each district. Both districts have virtually the same assessed valuation: $6.1 billion.

        In short, Cleveland gets more state money because the city has more students — 77,000 in Cleveland to Cincinnati's 42,000.

        State officials say there's no talk of changing the formula. But as all 612 Ohio school districts are expected to renovate or rebuild their schools by 2012, some of the biggest urban districts receiving small state shares voiced concerns last week over how they'll pay.

        Cincinnati is one of them.

        “We're not saying we should get more than other urban districts,” said Cincinnati Public Schools treasurer Michael Geoghegan. “What we're saying is, why don't we get an equal state share?”

        Officials here say the breakdown is unfair and will cost Cincinnati taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars more than homeowners will pay in Cleveland.

        They say the formula should take into account the income of residents here.

        The median household income in the Cincinnati school district last year was $24,420, versus $29,069 statewide. The Toledo school district's median household income was $24,479. Yet Toledo, with 37,000 students, is expected to get a 77 percent state share and pay a 23 percent local share — the opposite of Cincinnati.

        John Gilligan, Cincinnati board of education member and former Ohio governor, said Cincinnati and other big urban districts have some of Ohio's oldest school buildings in need of costly repairs.

        District officials here say they have identified $300 million they can use toward the proposed $1 billion building project, which could include building 35 new schools and renovating 31 existing schools.

        But they say they likely will ask voters to pass a bond issue for some or all of the remaining $500 million to renovate or replace every school in the district. No decision has been made on when taxpayers will be asked for the additional money.

        “I'm concerned, unless we deal with this issue up front, it's likely to rear its nasty head when we're trying to get a bond issue passed,” Mr. Gilligan said.

        Columbus officials say they are happy the state is helping to fund their projects, but agree the formula needs work.

        “We do have a concern it doesn't take into account the constituents' ability to pay,” said Columbus schools spokesman Mike Fulwider.

        Cincinnati and other districts have petitioned the state for additional funds. Cincinnati lobbied — but failed — in its attempt to have districts shoulder a maximum of 50 percent local share for building projects.

        “That would require a major legislative change,” said Rick Savors, spokesman for the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

        Cincinnati has enough money to start the first phase of the decade-long school rebuilding project. Construction will begin this summer on Rockdale Academy in Avondale.

        But officials say they'll continue to press the state for more aid.

        “If we can get it changed, we'd like to get it changed,” Mr. Gilligan said.

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