London Schools levy defeated
By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer
For the second time in six months, voters in the London City School District turned thumbs down Tuesday on a property tax levy to support operations.
The 8.5-mill emergency levy failed 2,855 votes to 1,802, according to unofficial results from the Madison County Board of Elections. It failed to pass in each of the school district’s 10 precincts.
A similar 7.5-mill levy failed 783 to 1,774 votes in the special election held May 2.
A strong campaign by levy supporters that included door-to-door contacts, signage and phone calls, failed to overcome a nervous economy.
“We’re disappointed, but we know we’re in difficult economic times,” said Superintendent Steve Allen.
It’s now back to the drawing board for the district’s board of education, which will include newly elected member Jonathan Stahl. Stahl will replace retiring board president Vici Geer in January 2012. The group already has a “Plan B” on the table for making additional budget cuts.
Board members decided in July to seek the levy in order to generate $2.5 million for the district during each of the next five years. The money would close a financial gap that is estimated reach a negative $500,000 by July 1, 2013.
Teacher and support staff layoffs last year are projected to keep the district financially afloat by a thin margin of $691 through the current fiscal year, which ends July 1, 2012. Allen blamed reduced revenues for the district’s financial woes.
“We can’t cut our way into a balanced budget and continue to maintain good academic progress,” he noted.
He express pride at London City Schools’ improved scores on the state report card. He also thanked levy campaign volunteers and school staff members for their work in recent months.
the unions had nothing to do with this it was the state cutting school funding by 25% this year and another 25% next year. thanks to kAsucks budget and the legislators not being able to fix an illegal school funding program.
You are so right Philip. Many in London want our schools to be just like others in Hilliard and Dublin, and we simply do not have the tax base to support such high class, expensive facilities. You ARE being blackmailed.
Children are sent home with threatening letters saying what will happen if parents don’t vote for more taxes.
To Deb: The schools LIED to us when they pushed for the income tax. Saying that they would reduce the property tax by an equal amount.
That never happened. As with all taxes, they go up and NEVER go away.
As to the school board:
Replacing one dunce with another will not help.
why do the schools need a property tax levy when they have a school tax?
I voted for the levy & wish it would have passed, but have never understood why we are continually told money is going to determine the quality of education at the London Schools? If the teacher is good, and the student does the work they’ll learn their lessons! I went to a little tiny school that had no money, and I was able to get a good High School education because I had good teachers and I applied myself. The amount of money in the budget should not have anything to do with how well the children are taught. Every time I hear that I feel like I’m being blackmailed. Maybe that is why the levy failed? Since Issue 2 also failed maybe the rich Teacher’s Union will kick in some funds to help the schools out – yeah that will never happen.