By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BLUE ASH - Sycamore Schools likely will be back on the ballot in November, but with a smaller levy than was offered last week.

Sycamore's levy was rejected by 61 percent of voters in the Aug. 3 special election. Eight of 10 Southwest Ohio school issues failed.

About 18 school districts in Greater Cincinnati are considering placing money issues on the Nov. 2 ballot or have already done so. Several districts that lost previous levy attempts in March or August are asking for less money the next time out.

"We really do value the input of our community, and they spoke pretty loudly at the last election," Sycamore Superintendent Karen Mantia said. "We certainly want to come out with something more palatable for them."

The school board Monday weighed six scenarios that include a limited or continuing levy. The levies would raise between $8.8 million and $11 million a year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home between $168 and $211 a year.

"I felt very confident that we were on the right track," Board President Pete Hershberger said after the meeting. "Even some detractors who did not support the levy stood up and said they could support us in these scenarios."

When the board meets again Aug. 18, it could choose one option or decide not to go on the November ballot. Hershberger said.

Board members have heard from some residents that the district asked for too much money in last week's levy, and they wanted more cuts made, he said.

The rejected levy would have raised $12 million annually, costing the owner of a $100,000 home $242.

George Rehfeldt, a levy opponent and member of Citizens for Responsible Fiscal Management, was encouraged Hershberger acknowledged he has heard the voters and their desire for change.

However, Rehfeldt is still not sold on a levy until he gets a five-year financial forecast on each option that outlines the revenue impact of a levy and specific cost reductions.

"In my mind, it's not the size of the levy that's at issue," Rehfeldt said.

"It's really about the level of expenditures that contributes to high student costs. In our minds, the levy issue is over. The talking is over. The taxpayers want to see action on costs."

Also at Monday's board meeting, the Sycamore board voted to cut another $2 million from the 2004-05 budget. Sycamore has already cut more than $3 million, including 75 jobs from this year's budget.

After the cuts, the budget stands at about $70 million. The new reductions include eight positions (seven teaching and one classified) that were not filled before the levy.

After the levy lost, the board approved a hiring freeze except for essential operations and student needs, such as meeting federal guidelines or safety.

Also Monday night, the board froze technology and capital improvement projects, and reduced department building budgets for items such as supplies and equipment and buying new social studies textbooks for grades K-4.

Other districts with money issues on the November ballot, or under consideration, are: Cincinnati, Finneytown, Northwest, Reading, Three Rivers, Winton Woods, Clermont Northeastern, Edgewood, Fairfield, Lakota, Madison, Monroe, Ross, Talawanda, Franklin, Kings and Little Miami.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com