MAHONING COUNTY School districts' forecasts are dim

School officials want the state funding system to be changed.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
By 2008, nearly every school district in Mahoning County is going to have to make budget cuts or ask voters for more money, according to school five-year financial forecasts filed with the state last month.
Voters, however, seem wary to approve new taxes for schools, and school superintendents are concerned that budget cuts will mean the elimination of needed programs, as well as a decline in enrollment and possible layoffs.
"Something's going to have to give soon," said Sebring Superintendent Howard Friend.
The forecasts show that all but two of the county's 15 districts expect to have a budget deficit by the end of the 2007-08 school year unless spending is cut or revenue is increased. The only two not projected to have a deficit are Boardman and the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center.
"This is the worst it's ever been," said Canfield Superintendent Dante Zambrini, who has worked in the district for 27 years.
School officials say most of the deficits can be attributed to cuts in state funding.
To avoid a deficit, districts will be making cuts and asking voters for more money through tax levies. On Tuesday, school officials in the Austintown, Sebring and Western Reserve districts asked voters to approve levies for operating expenses.
Each levy failed. Statewide, less than half of the school issues that appeared on the ballot were approved.
"I think the people can't afford it," Friend said. "I don't think they're upset with the school district. Financially, it's just a hard time."
Boardman Superintendent Don Dailey said his district will be able to avoid a deficit before 2008 because voters approved a tax levy for the schools in February. After 2008, however, the district may have to go back to the voters and ask for more money to avoid a deficit, Dailey said.
State law does not allow school districts to go into debt. If a district has a deficit, the state will place it in a fiscal emergency.
State officials will then tell the school board what to cut.
Friend noted that he didn't want to drive pupils away from the district by eliminating extra-curricular programs. The district would then receive less money from the state because it has fewer pupils.
Western Reserve Superintendent Charles Swindler added that without more money, districts may have to cut art, music and physical education classes, as well as nursing and guidance programs. The state does not require districts to maintain those classes and programs.
Western Reserve is facing a $604,914 deficit at the end of the 2004-2005 fiscal year. Swindler said the district had been promised a 2.8 percent increase in state funding this year, only to receive a .015 percent increase.
"I don't know where Ohio thinks its headed; I'm just not optimistic," Poland Superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn said. Poland is facing a $452,308 deficit at the end of 2004-05.
Property values
Zorn added that he thinks state officials are "passing the buck" to local taxpayers through the state's school funding formula, which is based on property values.
When property values increase in a district, the state reduces funding to the district. The state assumes that the district can collect more from local taxpayers because property values increased.
Under state law, however, the amount collected through local tax levies does not increase with property values. Voters have to pass new or replacement tax levies for a district to benefit from increased property values.
"You're constantly going back to the taxpayers," said Austintown Superintendent Stan Watson.
A spokeswoman for state Rep. Arlene Setzer, of Vandalia, R-36th, chairwoman of the House education committee, said education funding was a local issue and directed calls to local officials.
State Rep. Ken Carano, of Austintown, D-59th, a member of the committee, said he believes support is growing for a change in the funding system. He said several representatives want to allow districts to collect some additional revenue when property tax values increase because of new construction.
The Ohio Supreme Court has declared the funding system unconstitutional in four rulings, the last coming in December 2002. Zambrini said he thinks the number of districts forced to ask voters for more money in each election will continue to increase until the state Legislature changes the system.
hill@vindy.com