By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

Even if voters approve a school levy for Fairfield schools in November, it won't be enough to offset $2.7 million in cuts the school board agreed to Monday night.

All across Southwest Ohio, the story is much the same, as school boards are preparing to take funding issues back to the voters.

So far, 18 districts in Butler, Warren, Clermont and Hamilton counties have placed levies on the Nov. 2 ballot or are taking steps to do so. The deadline is Aug. 19.

Among those 18 are seven districts in Butler County. And like Fairfield, most are looking at reduced spending.

"I think something has to happen statewide," said Tom York, superintendent of the Edgewood Schools. "Until the taxpayers see some big changes (in school funding), we're all going to have problems.''

Fairfield is considering a smaller levy than the two that voters rejected in March, and again last week. To make it more palatable than the 6.9-mill levy voters previously rejected, the proposed 4.9-mill November issue would still be paired with $2.7 million in cuts. Taxpayers would pay about $150 annually on a $100,000 house, $61 less than the previous levies would have cost.

"We need to hear what our community is telling us," said Robert Farrell, Fairfield schools superintendent. "We do still need a levy. Some services will be cut back for the next several years."

But others, Farrell said, would return. High school busing would be reinstated for grades 9-12 and pay-to-participate fees would be lowered. New buses would be purchased only if the state reimbursed the district. Student fees of $25 for kindergarten and $50 for grades 1-6 would continue.

And for at least the next five years, no teaching positions would be added. Only replacements would be hired.

In Edgewood, where $1 million in cuts have been put in place for the upcoming school year, the board on Monday voted to resubmit a levy that would raise $2.5 million annually and increase taxes about $211 each year on a $100,000 house.

Lakota voters will also see a reduced levy on the Nov. 2 ballot - along with continued cuts. Dropped from the combination levy that was rejected in March was construction of a new Union Elementary.

The combination levy that voters will decide Nov. 2 includes $12.4 million for day-to-day operations and $80 million to build three schools.

Monroe decided Monday to seek renewal of a five-year, 5.95-mill levy first approved when Monroe was part of the Middletown Schools. Its share would continue to bring $1.5 million annually to Monroe.

In Franklin, two community groups on Monday presented the school board with checks totaling $140,000 - the cost of fall sports and school clubs.

Tuesday, the board was considering a levy that would bring in nearly $3.9 million a year and increase taxes by almost $300 on a $100,000 home. A final vote is set for Aug. 16.

Also Monday, the Sycamore Board of Education began considering three levies in varying amounts for the Nov. 2 ballot, to raise $8.8 million to $11 million. Taxes would increase between $169 and $211 annually.

All three are lower than the levy voters rejected last week.

In the Cincinnati Public Schools, voters will see a $65.2 million renewal levy.

Elsewhere, final board votes will be taken over the next eight days on levy requests for the Madison, Ross, Talawanda, Kings, Little Miami, Finneytown, Northwest, Reading, Three Rivers, Winton Woods and Clermont Northeastern districts.

E-mail suek@infionline.net