Officials: Levy will eliminate deficit
School board members said they support passage of the 6.9-mill tax levy.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
STRUTHERS -- The Struthers City School District will have to borrow another $315,914 from the state at the end of this school year if a proposed 6.9-mill tax levy on the November ballot fails.
That's the size of the deficit the school district, which the state has placed in fiscal emergency, is facing this year, said Dr. Michael Evanson, district treasurer.
Struthers already owes the state $1,230,834, money the district borrowed because of its financial situation, he told a crowd of more than 50 people at Tuesday's school board meeting.
The district actually borrowed $1.9 million from the state in June and has begun making the 24 monthly payments it must meet to repay the debt, Evanson said.
Some of the $1,230,834 also includes money borrowed from the state 10 years ago due to similar financial circumstances, he said.
More cuts needed
The district has already made substantial cuts this year and reduced spending by well over $1 million, but a state Financial Planning & amp; Supervision Commission has recommended in a performance audit that deeper reductions be made, said Dr. Sandra DiBacco, superintendent.
Among other things, the commission has recommended cutting 23 teachers to save $1 million per year.
There won't be any deficit, however, if the proposed levy passes. It is expected to generate about $930,000 in new revenue.
It will be a continuing levy that the district won't have to get renewed.
Voters turned down an 8-mill version of the tax increase in May.
Cuts in spending and some new enrollments helped the board pare the proposal down to 6.9 mills.
DiBacco has said the levy is really the equivalent of a 5-mill increase because Struthers was able to save the equivalent of 1.9 mills of taxes when it got a lower interest rate on the refinancing of a loan used to build the middle school.
Board voices support
It appeared that most of the audience, which included a number of teachers, favor the passage of the levy, and a member of the levy committee put school board members on the spot, asking them to explain publicly where they stand on the issue.
Board President Mathew Rhoads was absent, but the other four members said they back the issue.
Joseph Edwards pointed out that he has two support signs in his yard and has attended a levy committee meeting.
Vice President David Barone said he refuses to put any political signs in his yard but that he supports the levy.
"We do need the additional funds," he said.
Kandace Becker-Hagendorn said she also has two signs of support in her yard and has gone door to door and financially supported efforts to get past levies approved.
Sheri Noble said she has a sign but hasn't got it put up yet. She said she supports the levy and has been encouraging people to vote for it.
gwin@vindy.com