By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

DEERFIELD TWP. - A Norwood-based grassroots organization opposed to increased taxes is expanding northward.

The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes will announce at a press conference Friday the establishment of North COAST.

That group will include members in the Interstate 275 beltway roughly between Colerain Township and Milford, along with southern Butler and Warren counties, said Del Landis, a former Kings Local Schools Board of Education member and team leader.

"Right now that's where some of the hottest issues are - in the Lakota and Fairfield schools," Landis said Wednesday. "What we're trying to do is help our members find each other, share strategies and ideas and find resources."

There will be a link to the new group off the COAST Web site, www.gocoast.org, by Friday or Monday, Landis said. A message board will allow members to contact one another for ideas or help.

Landis said the group decided to establish a northern branch after an organizational meeting last month drew about 50 people representing 16 school districts in the northern suburbs.

Eighteen school districts in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties have put 19 school money issues on the March 2 primary ballot.

The press conference, which is open to the public, will be 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall at Tri-County Baptist Church, 8195 Beckett Road, West Chester.

COAST founder Chris Finney will speak about the new branch.

Former Lakota Board of Education member Helen Shumaker and Arnold Engel, founder of the Fairfield based Citizens for Accountability and Results in Education (CARE), will also speak about ballot issues in the Lakota and Fairfield schools.

Following the conference the group will carpool to Union Elementary School, 8735 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, where COAST members will discuss Lakota's 11.67-mill combination levy that includes 2.37-mill bond issue and 9.3 mill operating levy.

In December COAST assisted CARE in filing a lawsuit against the Fairfield Schools after the district allowed a pro-levy group to distribute literature through the schools, but not Engel's group. It has also provided some funds for the signs CARE has put up against Fairfield's 6.9-mill operating levy.

E-mail suek@infionline.net