Wednesday, May 08, 2002
Mariemont's school tax fails
Levy defeated in first for city
By Cindy Kranz, ckranz@enquirer.com.
The Cincinnati Enquirer
For the first time, Mariemont City School District voters rejected a school levy Tuesday.
By a wide margin, 1,670 to 990 (63 percent to 37 percent), voters turned down a proposed 9.95-mill levy that would have allowed the district to meet budget demands for another three years.
The loss was a stunning blow to leaders of the district, which consistently receives an “Excellent” ranking on the Ohio Department of Education's Local Report Card.
The levy was one of five school issues on Greater Cincinnati ballots. Voters approved a levy in Wyoming and a renewal levy in Norwood, but defeated a levy in Warren County's Little Miami Schools and a bond issue in the Talawanda Schools in Butler County.
David Moreton Jr., a Mariemont school board member, said he was disappointed by Tuesday's results, but expects the district will come back to voters in November.
“It seems that some of the voters out there think they want a better accounting of money or better accounting of spending, and how much we actually need for a district our size,” Mr. Moreton said.
“We do a good job of tracking our expenditures. We have to send across the message it is being taken care of and we do know what we're doing.”
The continuing operating levy would have raised $2.48 million annually for the 1,700-student district. The owner of a $100,000 home would have paid an extra $304 in taxes if the levy had passed.
Wyoming City School District fended off budget cuts when voters approved a 9.5-mill operating levy that will raise about $2 million a year.
Without the levy, the 1,900-pupil district would have faced a projected $1.2 million deficit by June 2003.
Wyoming voters approved the levy 1,911 to 1,011 (65 percent to 35 percent). The owner of a $200,000 home will pay an extra $586 in annually.
“We're all very thrilled, with not only the results, but also by the percentage,” said Superintendent Ted Knapke.
Also on Tuesday, Norwood School District voters renewed a 5.1-mill emergency levy, 1,420 to 833 (63 percent to 37 percent). The renewal will bring $1.75 million annually to the district's general fund.
District enrollment is 2,900. Sue Kiesewetter contributed.
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