By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DEERFIELD TWP. - It used to be an unwritten rule among public school officials when they planned tax levy campaigns: Never discuss any beyond the most immediate tax issue coming up on the ballot, or you might irritate or confuse voters.

But with state school funding a mess, a sluggish economy and ballots increasingly crowded with school tax issues - more than a third of Ohio's 612 school districts sought new tax issues earlier this month with 19 school issues in Greater Cincinnati schools alone - some local school officials are going with candor about future tax issues.

Kings Schools officials in recent weeks have held a series of public meetings at various schools in the Warren County school system to explain the district's looming budget deficit of $3.6 million in 2006 that has forced the cutting of $2 million in the next two years. School officials are eliminating more than two dozen jobs and considering a 2-mill operating levy in November.

Even if that tax issue won approval, Kings officials are already telling residents another property tax increase proposal - an estimated 5 mills - will likely be on the ballot in 2006 to help offset the district's budget deficit.

"In the past, the economy was better and you didn't have to look down the road as much," explains Kings Superintendent Charles Mason, a 35-year veteran of public schools. "But school districts are doing this now compared to the past because it's the only way to do business, by being up front and honest with your constituents.

"It's like sitting down with your family and doing a budget and looking ahead. You don't want to surprise them," says Mason, a first-year superintendent with the 3,800-student district.

In nearby Mason Schools, veteran superintendent Kevin Bright also prefers being candid about his district's future needs, saying "philosophically, we believe it is best if the community is not surprised by what's coming on the horizon."

Even before Mason voters overwhelmingly approved a $35 million school bond issue on March 2, which did not raise property taxes, school officials had openly discussed the next two school tax issues voters will be seeing. They plan an operating levy on undetermined size in May 2005 and another bond issue of unknown amount in May 2006 to add on to the high school.

Fast-growing districts, said Bright, have to go public with projections for future money needs.

"Particularly here in Mason, where our growth accounts for 30 percentof all enrollment growth in the state, it's important for us to constantly be looking ahead and then to share the pertinent information with our stakeholders," he said of the 650 students the district adds each year, putting it among the fastest growing districts in Ohio.

Kings' recent public meetings, with each including an open question and answer forum for residents about any aspect of the district's finances, were all well-attended and Mason said another round of public meetings on the need for more school buildings will begin soon.

Kings school parent Matt Warye said he appreciates the tact.

"The approach is so much more open. The public forums are exactly what the public wants," he said.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com