Voters send a message: no new school taxes

Once again, voters in Mahoning and Trumbull counties responded to requests by local school districts for renewal levies with an affirmative vote and rejected requests for additional funding.
A few of the issues were rejected by overwhelming margins; some were narrowly defeated. But the message appears to be clear: Residents aren't inclined to approve new taxes for local school districts -- even those facing meltdowns.
That could be a by-product of the area's troubled economy. A reaction by the growing number of voters who are on fixed income. A sign that some voters don't trust some school boards or administrators. Or an anti-tax statement by residents who are frustrated at their inability to affect state or federal tax issues.
Or it could be a combination of all those factors and others -- to greater or lesser degrees, district by district.
It will be up to each school board to respond in ways that will convince voters that every penny is being well spent, every student getting the best possible education. When those conditions exist, and financial pressures require additional money, it may be possible to convince voters to approve increases.
The good news is that voters are willing to continue to support their local schools with renewal issues.
In Mahoning County, renewals in Boardman, Canfield and Western Reserve were approved by heavy margins. In Trumbull County, renewals in Lordstown and Hubbard passed by comfortable margins while one in Bristol was approved by a narrow margin.
Turmoil ahead
The district that faces the greatest turmoil due to the loss of an additional operating issue is also the district that came closest to approval of an additional tax. Struthers schools are already in state-designated fiscal emergency. The district came within 100 votes of approving a 6.9 mill additional levy that would have permitted it to begin balancing its budget without further cuts.
Three new board members elected Tuesday in Struthers will have to grapple with the district's budget problems.
Sebring and West Branch schools defeated income tax issues, West Branch by almost three-to-one.
By a razor-thin 20 votes, Jackson-Milton voters defeated a bond issue that would have provided $12.4 million in local money and millions in state money for construction of a new high school and middle school.
The only school replacement levy on the ballot in Trumbull County, a 4.9 mill continuing issue in McDonald was defeated by a narrow margin.
Additional levies in Brookfield, Champion, and Maplewood were all defeated by wide margins.
Their boards of education will have to grapple with how to balance their budgets, and tighten spending until such time as they can convince voters that additional funds are needed.
That's a huge task, one that makes serving on a school board for a monthly pittance a thankless job.