Lakota to seek 6.9-mill levy in May

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 11:43 PM Monday, February 8, 2010

LIBERTY TWP. — The Lakota Board of Education Monday night, Feb. 8, agreed to proceed with placing a relatively new type of levy on the May ballot.

The district of 18,500 students will be asking residents in Liberty and West Chester townships and parts of Monroe to support a 6.9-mill incremental levy on May 4.

Incremental levies use one vote by taxpayers to support two millage rates.

In this case, if approved, the incremental levy would continue at the 6.9-mill level until 2012, then automatically increase by 4.9 mills between 2012 and 2014.

If approved, the levy would cost an additional $211 per year per $100,000 in home value from 2010 to 2012, then $361 — a $150 increase — from 2012 to 2014. District finance officials said they anticipate heading back to voters for another operating levy in 2014.

Lakota Treasurer Craig Jones said incremental levies have been used by Ohio school districts for only the past 10 years, including most recently in Mason.

The resolution of necessity the board unanimously approved Monday cues the county auditor to begin factoring land value in the district, providing the board with a certified expectation the proposed levy would generate.

The board must now approve a resolution to proceed by Feb. 18, the deadline to file the necessary paperwork with the Butler County Board of Elections.

The incremental levy would generate an estimated $19.32 million per year for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years, and an additional $13.72 million in 2012 and after.

“I think the incremental (option) takes into account where the community is right now with the economy,” Board member Lynda O’Connor said Monday.

Lakota’s financial troubles are not expected to wane anytime soon, officials have said.

The county’s largest district — and the state’s largest rated excellent with distinction — is fighting flat funding since 2005 despite an increase of more than 1,500 students, a 3 percent reduction — or about $1.3 million — in state funding over the next two years and unfunded state mandates, such as all-day kindergarten. Lakota’s five-year financial forecast includes an expected deficit of $28 million by the start of the 2011-12 school year without new funding and deep cuts.

Lakota began the year by slashing more than $4.2 million from its $165 million budget. Another $6 million in cuts — including the equivalent of more than 105 teachers and staff — were announced Feb. 3.

REFER TO LAKOTA BLOG

www.journal-news.com/lakotaschoolsnews

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