By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

An $11 million reduction in inventory at General Electric is prompting the Lockland Board of Education to put a $2.5 million emergency operating levy on the Feb. 4 ballot.

The board is one of eight in Southwest Ohio considering tax issues for the special election. Five have taken the first step by asking the county auditor to certify the millage needed and will vote this week to put the issue on the ballot before Thursday's filing deadline.

School boards in Springboro, Norwood and Milford have completed the process by voting to put money issues on the February ballot.

For Lockland, the vote is coming earlier than anticipated. Last month the board learned that GE's lowered inventory would translate into a $325,000 loss to the district, said Superintendent Phil Fox.

"It's a big hit for us,'' Mr. Fox said. "We can get through this year but there will be two to three (positions) cut next year through retirements.''

Lockland treasurer Sandy Chance said since one mill only raises $111,000 in Lockland, the five-year emergency levy could be as high as 20 mills. The exact millage will be certified next week after factoring in property re-evaluations.

Taxes that GE pays to the Lockland Schools represent about 53 percent of the district's total income, down from 80 percent in the late 1980s, Mr. Fox said.

"We have lived or died with General Electric,'' Mr. Fox said.

Other levies being considered for the February ballot:

Batavia: The Batavia board will meet with its campaign committee Monday before making a final decision on resubmitting an $18.4 million bond issue to voters in February, said Superintendent Paul Varney. If the board moves ahead, the millage may drop slightly due to reappraisals.

"We will be back. The when is the question we need to consider,'' Mr. Varney said.

Mount Healthy: 6.95-mill continuing levy that would raise about $2.07 million annually to be used for day-to-day operations. It is the same levy voters turned down earlier this month.

As a result of the levy defeat, high school bus transportation will cease Jan. 1. Although the board has already cut nearly $600,000 from this year's budget, another $400,000 to $500,000 will be cut between now and June, even if a levy is approved in February, said John Pennell, business manager.

A final vote on putting the issue back on the ballot is scheduled Monday.

St. Bernard-Elmwood Place: Renewal of a five-year, $1,050,555 operating levy due to expire in December 2003. Final vote scheduled for Tuesday.

Talawanda: A 2.55-mill bond issue to provide $19.5 million with most of the money going toward construction of a new school to replace Stewart Elementary. It is the same issue voters rejected earlier this month. The final vote is scheduled for Monday.

"Because it's the same proposal we want to keep it fresh in everyone's mind,'' said Superintendent Phil Cagwin. "If this is passed in February we can replace Stewart in fall 2004.''

Milford: The board last week voted to put a 5.9-mill operating levy on the ballot that would bring $4,787,770 annually to district treasury beginning in January 2004.

Springboro: The board agreed to put a single question on the ballot that would renew a $1.4 million emergency levy and a $600,000 levy, both due to expire in December 2003. Collections on the emergency levy, if approved, would begin in 2004 and continue through December 2008.

Norwood: Every building in the Norwood Schools would be renovated or replaced within four years under a $54.9 million project voters will be asked to help pay for.

The 8.93-mill bond issue would be large enough to pay for both Norwood's share of the project and the 37 percent the state is expected to pay in 2008 through the Expedited Local Partnership Program, said Treasurer Cary Furniss.

If the bond issue is approved, Norwood would only collect 5.73 mills, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $172 annually, Mr. Furniss said.

E-mail suek@infi.net