Voting on school issues is a privilege not to be abused

Ohio voters enjoy a privilege that the residents of some states do not: a direct voice in the local property taxes that support their school districts.
Unfortunately, some voters have turned this privilege into what they consider a right to just say "no."
We're not suggesting the voters don't have the right to say no, or that they have an absolute duty to say yes.
But it is an abuse of the privilege if a voter rejects a school levy just because it is one of the few taxes that he or she has the opportunity to reject. Voting no just to vote no, without considering the legitimate needs of the community and the students who live there is, well, undemocratic.
We have traditionally recommended that voters approve school levies because we believe that elected school board members do not lightly decide to ask for additional financial support.
Space prohibits us examining each of the 12 school issues that will appear on the ballots in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. But consider just one of the additional levies. The Liberty Board of Education is seeking a 7.9-mill, 5-year additional levy that will produce $1,776,316 annually for Liberty schools.
That is certainly not an inconsiderable amount of money and 7.9 mills added to the tax bill of a school district resident is likely to have an impact on many family budgets.
On the other hand, financial figures show that the Liberty Local School District has made the kind of cuts that make it reasonable to ask for additional income. For instance, the school district has eliminated music, special education and grade-level teachers. Pay-to-play fees have been established for sports and other extra-curricular activities.
Over the last three years, the district has trimmed per-pupil expenditures such that the district, which was operating at $608 per pupil below the state average in fiscal year 2001 is operating at $1,439 below the state average in fiscal year 2004.
Any voter who has data that shows Liberty board members and administrators are not being good stewards of the money entrusted to them, should feel comfortable voting against the levy. But hunches, or feelings or rumors or just being taxed off doesn't justify voting no.
The school levies appearing on tomorrow's ballots are:
Mahoning County
Jackson-Milton Schools: A 5.4-mill, 28-year bond issue to raise $12,425,000 for new school facilities, and to provide equipment, furnishings and site improvements.
South Range Schools: A 4.1-mill, 5-year renewal levy to raise $558,000 annually to avoid an operating deficit.
Campbell Schools: A 14.1-mill, 5-year renewal levy to raise $989,711 annually for emergency purposes.
West Branch Schools: A 1.5 percent, 5-year income tax to raise $2,666,000 annually for operating expenses.
Struthers Schools: An 8-mill additional levy for a continuing period of time to raise $1,077,552 annually for current expenses.
Trumbull County
Bristol Schools: A 4.5-mill, 3-year renewal levy to raise $330,000 annually for emergency requirements.
Brookfield Schools: A 7-mill additional levy for current expenses for a continuing period.
Lakeview Schools: A 3.5-mill, 5-year additional levy for emergency requirements to raise $948,000 annually.
Liberty Schools: A 7.9-mill, 5-year additional levy for the emergency requirements of the school district to raise $1,776,316 annually.
Mathews Schools: A 7.9-mill, 5-year replacement levy; a reduction of a 0.8 mill levy; for current expenses.
Newton Falls Schools: A 5-mill, 5-year renewal levy for emergency requirements to raise $585,011 annually.
Weathersfield Schools: A 4.2-mill, 5-year renewal levy to provide $418, 128 annually for the emergency requirements.
We urge area residents to support their local schools.