When moving from the West Coast nine years ago, my family and I chose Fairfield because we were impressed with both the community and the public schools. Our intentions were to spend a few years in Fairfield while I finished graduate school and then move on. But the longer we stayed, the deeper our roots sank into this community. We hope to live here for many years to come.

However, Fairfield is now a troubled community. Our community has not passed a new operating levy for our public schools in more than a decade. The previous levy failure resulted in the elimination of extracurricular activities for all grades, cancellation of busing for grades 9-12, and the elimination of 62 jobs, including 18 teachers. Now, Fairfield's failure Aug. 3 to pass a 6.9-mill continuing levy will result in deeper cuts, including 20 percent of our teachers. Without more money Fairfield Schools will be in fiscal crisis. What is now a very successful school district will struggle to simply meet state-required minimums. Those of us who are able will leave; those who cannot will be left to watch the school district and the community decline.

Fairfield's current predicament may be an extreme example, but it is not unique. Many other districts will soon be facing the same fiscal catastrophe. But the tragedy is that it need not happen in Fairfield or anywhere else in Ohio.

The current system of funding public schools in Ohio is unconstitutional, inequitable and morally indefensible. The lethal combination of property taxes, levy-based financing, House Bill 920 (millage reduction factor) and "phantom revenues" in the state funding formula have combined to make it nearly impossible for public schools to secure the necessary funds to even maintain current levels of service.

The public schools have become the target for much of the public's anti-tax sentiment. Frustrated with overall levels of government spending and taxation, voters simply say "no" to the schools that are forced to return to the ballot time and time again. When we most need to work together, the current funding system only serves to divide and destroy the communities we live in.

We will continue working very hard to pass a levy in our community, but we cannot stop there. We must demand that our governor and state legislators find the political will and courage to fix this injurious funding system. We can no longer stand by and watch our communities be torn apart. Don't think it can happen in your community? We didn't think so in Fairfield either.

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Mark H. Morris, a Fairfield resident and father of two daughters, works as a consultant to local governments in southwestern Ohio.

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