Don't blame school districts for seeking operating levies

Unless you've had your head in the sand, you know that the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled Ohio's system of funding public primary and secondary education to be unconstitutional. In other words, a majority of the seven justices found that school districts' dependence on property taxes does not provide every child in Ohio with a thorough and efficient education, as required by the constitution.
And unless you have political blinders on, you also know that Republican Gov. Bob Taft and the Republican-controlled General Assembly have failed to come up with a system for funding kindergarten through 12th grade that does not rely on property taxes. A commission appointed by Taft to study the issue of school funding is expected to submit its report and a recommendation shortly.
Meanwhile, school districts have to keep going back to the voters for property tax renewals, and in some cases for additional taxes, to not only provide the very best education for pupils, but also to meet the growing number of mandates from the state and federal governments.
Every election, The Vindicator urges voters not to turn their backs on this region's future. We do so knowing that we sound like a broken record.
But there is no alternative today to property tax levies, other than a reduction in operating funds for the school districts. We've heard the argument many times before: School boards, superintendents, administrators and teachers should tighten their belts and make sacrifices the way taxpayers in the Mahoning Valley have had to do.
As we've pointed out in the past, school districts are well aware of the public's aversion to paying taxes and, therefore, do not seek levies on a whim. Board members and superintendents know they have to be able to justify not only requests for additional funding, but also the renewals, and are prepared to do so if asked by residents.
The following local school issues receive The Vindicator's endorsement:
Mahoning County
UAustintown: 3.9-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $2.1 million for current expenses.
UBoardman: 1.7-mill, three-year renewal levy to raise $1.4 million for emergency requirements.
UCanfield: 1-mill, five-year renewal with increase levy to raise $429,358 for permanent improvements.
USebring: 6.6-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $300,000 to avoid an operating deficit.
USouth Range: 5.9-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $793,000 for operating expenses.
UWestern Reserve: 5.6-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $425,000 for operating expenses.
UYoungstown City: 23-year bond issue to allow the board to borrow $4 million to help pay for construction and renovation projects.
Springfield Local is seeking renewal of a 1 percent income tax to be in effect for five years. The Vindicator does not endorse school income tax issues.
Trumbull County
UBristol: 5.5-mill, five-year additional levy to help it emerge from state imposed fiscal emergency. The tax would generate $400,000 a year.
UBrookfield: 4-mill, continuing period for current expenses.
UHowland: 4.3-mill, five-year renewal levy to avoid a budget deficit.
ULaBrae: 3-mill, five-year renewal levy for capital improvements.
ULakeview: 3.4-mill, five-year renewal levy to raise $890,000 for emergency requirements; 4.5-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $1.145 million.
ULiberty: 7.9-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $1.772 million for emergency requirements.
UNewton Falls: 5.2-mill, five-year additional levy for current expenses.
USouthington: 3.7-mill, three-year renewal levy to raise $200,133 for emergency requirements.
UTrumbull Career and Technical Center -- Voters in 19 school districts served by the center are being asked to renew a 2.4-mill levy for 10 years for current expenses.
UWeathersfield: 5.5-mill, five-year additional levy to raise $538,168 for emergency requirements.