By Cindy Kranz
Enquirer staff writer

Three area school districts have signed on to run levies in November - Clermont Northeastern, Finneytown and Winton Woods.

It will be Finneytown's first time out on the ballot since 2001. Clermont Northeastern and Winton Woods have lost twice this year, most recently Tuesday.

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The Winton Woods school board lowered the amount it's seeking after deciding to cut 16 more teachers and staff. That adds up to about $1 million out of the 2004-05 budget.

School boards in the three districts met Thursday night to decide on ballot issues. Here's a recap of their plans:

Clermont Northeastern:

  The district will put a 4.9-mill permanent improvement levy on the ballot, the same amount it asked for this week. It would raise $1.2 million annually for building/grounds maintenance, textbook purchases and upgrading technology.

The district is currently spending about $850,000-$900,000 for those items out of its general operating fund. If the levy passes, it would free up that money from the general fund for other programs, such as increasing high school course offerings and all-day, every day kindergarten.

Cost: $150 annually on a $100,000 house.

Finneytown:

The ballot will include a 7.95-mill continuing operating levy that would raise $1.6 million a year for daily operations.

The district said it is facing a deficit by the end of this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2005.

"Historically, we have had to come back to the voters every three to four years," said Kevin Berlon, school board vice president. "With the board and the superintendent actively pursuing cost containment measures, we will still have to cut $400,000 from our budget in fiscal year '05 and an additional $300,000 in fiscal year '06."

Cost: $234.16 annually on a $100,000 house.

Winton Woods:

Voters will decide on a 7.95-mill combination levy that includes 6.95 mills and a 1-mill permanent improvement levy that together would raise $3.9 million annually. Cost: $243.47 annually on a $100,000 house.

The board reduced the amount it's seeking by one mill after cutting the additional staff from the 2005-06 budget. Some $2.1 million, including 41 jobs, were cut from this year's budget. In addition, the board immediately froze plans for $250,000 in maintenance and repairs.

Districts have until Aug. 19 to file for the Nov. 2 ballot.

Other Greater Cincinnati school districts that are considering placing money issues on the November ballot include:

Hamilton - Cincinnati Public Schools, Northwest, Reading,Sycamore and Three Rivers.

Clermont - Milford.

Butler - Edgewood, Fairfield, Lakota, Madison, Monroe, Ross and Talawanda.

Warren - Franklin, Kings and Little Miami.

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E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com