By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NORTH BEND - Three Rivers school officials hoped that by cutting the size of their next school levy nearly in half, they would also whittle local opposition to new school taxes.

Still, some opponents complain more needs to be done.

Three Rivers Board of Education members held a special public meeting Monday to unveil three possible school levies - ranging from 6 mills to 6.85 mills - that they are considering putting on either the November or February ballot.

In March the district's proposed 12-mill property tax increase, which was a continuing operating levy for the financially troubled western Hamilton County district, was defeated by a 3-1 ratio.

District officials have since scrambled to balance the budget and recently approved $1.8 million in program and personnel cuts for next school year, including elimination of 28 jobs, of which 12 are teaching positions.

District officials are considering only five-year operating levies as compared to March's continuing levy, which would have created a tax indefinitely.

But some residents hammered school board members for not being more accommodating to the public in soliciting opinions from those who may need more convincing to back a school levy.

Three Rivers resident Mark Hoffman told the board that the $1.8 million in cuts, which include elimination of bus service for high school students, "makes people feel like they are being held for ransom."

"You need to look hard on how you are handling this," said Hoffman, who nevertheless said he supported a levy.

Fellow resident Carol Baden told the board: "I was pleased to see you're not considering a new continuing levy, but you still have a lot of healing to do in the community before you move on to this next levy."

But school board President Brian Koelling said the 2,200-student district is handcuffed financially by declining state education revenue and unfunded state and federal education mandates.

"We are not doing these cuts to make children suffer, but local taxpayers have to figure out a way to fund the education of our children," Koelling said.

The board has until Aug. 21 to decide if it wants to place a new tax issue on the November ballot.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com