By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ADDYSTON - Three Rivers schools is seeking one of the largest school tax increases in Greater Cincinnati, but officials for the small western Hamilton County system say it's necessary to avoid budget cuts.

LEVY MEETINGS

Three Rivers school officials will hold six more public forums to address the need for the levy., including recent local economic and state school funding developments that have adversely affected the financial situation of the 2,200-student school district that includes the three western Hamilton County communities of Addyston, North Bend and Cleves. Three Rivers officials will be available at each community meeting to answer questions. about the 12-mill levy, which will be on the March 2 ballot. 7:00 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Village of North Bend Council building at 21 Taylor Ave. 7:00 p.m. Feb. 2 in Cleves at the Miller Stockum Post 485 American Legion at 29 E. State Road. 7:00 p.m. Feb. 11 in Cleves at the Village of Cleves Council building at 101 N. Miami Ave. 7:00 p.m. Feb. 17 in Cleves at the Three Rivers Middle School at 8575 Bridgetown Road. 7:00 p.m. Feb. 23 in North Bend at Taylor High School at 36 Harrison Ave. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in Cleves at the Miami Township Trustee meeting at 112 S. Miami Ave.

Three Rivers is putting a 12-mill operating levy on the March 2 ballot and school officials told residents in Addyston, during the first of a series of public forums on the school tax, that $1.2 million in personnel and program cuts will have to be made next school year if voters reject the property tax increase.

Three Rivers Superintendent Rhonda Bohannon pointed out to the dozen or so people attending an Addyston Village Council meeting earlier this week that the proposed 12-mill property tax increase is only the fifth school tax issue put on the ballot by Three Rivers Schools in more than 30 years. Moreover, said Bohannon, nearly half of Ohio's 612 public school districts will have school tax issues on the March 2 ballot, with 19 Southwest Ohio school issues on the ballot in Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties.

"It's not just Three Rivers that is looking for money right now, but a lot of districts in the state are facing this now," said Bohannon.

And though Three Rivers' proposed tax increase, which would increase the annual school property tax on a $100,000 home by $347, is the largest single issue of six Hamilton County tax issues Three Rivers Treasurer Scott Hiles points out that because of differences in area school district property valuation, one mill in Three Rivers raises about $392,575, while one mill in the affluent Indian Hill school system, which is similar in enrollment size with about 2,200 students, generates about $943,060.

"It's less than half, and that is because of the make-up of our tax base," Hiles said in reference to the largely bedroom communities of Addyston, Cleves and North Bendthat include some retail and industrial development. "In another district, we wouldn't need so much millage."

Bohannon touted the district's recent academic rise to a state rating of "effective" schools, only one indicator short of Ohio's "excellent" rating, as significant progress. She said that could be harmed by a levy defeat leading to personnel and program cuts. District officials plan to outline those budget reductions next month but Bohannon said voters should not underestimate the importance of the upcoming school levy issue for Three Rivers' next generation.

"These young people will the the leaders and the taxpayers of the future soon and we'll need them."

Three Rivers school parent Missy Gottmann said "nobody likes to be hit with 12 mills, but we know it's necessary and I haven't heard any other parents say they are against it."

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com