Voters voice dissatisfaction with school funding system

If Gov. Ted Strickland and leaders in the Ohio General Assembly are looking for yet another reason to change the way the state funds primary and secondary education, they need only glance at the results of Tuesday's primary election in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
While there were just three school funding issues on the ballots in the two counties, the unofficial vote tallies make it clear that dissatisfaction with the current system runs deep.
Even in the two districts where the issues passed, the no votes were significant. Interestingly, in both cases, the districts were seeking local money to secure large amounts of state dollars for school construction projects.
In the third district, voters said no to renewing an emergency levy that officials contended was needed to pay employee salaries, utilities, technological updates and other operating expenses.
Bottom line: Taxpayers are in a disagreeable mood -- and are looking to Columbus to make things right.
Triggering their dissatisfaction is an Ohio Supreme Court ruling that the current system of funding kindergarten through 12th grade is unconstitutional. The court said that over-reliance on property taxes violates the constitutional mandate that every child in Ohio receive a thorough and efficient education.
Strickland, who took office in January, has pledged to explore alternatives to the funding system, whereas the Republican controlled General Assembly contends that the billions of dollars from the state for school construction projects are a response to the Supreme Court's ruling.
Constitutional amendment
However, a grassroots organization is working to place on the November general election statewide ballot a constitutional amendment that would establish a ceiling on property taxes for school districts and require most of the per student funding to come from the state.
If Tuesday's primary election results in Mahoning and Trumbull counties are any indication, the grassroots initiative has a good chance of winning widespread approval.
In the Jackson-Milton School District, 834 voters rejected the renewal of a 6.2-mill, five-year emergency levy that generates 988,485 a year. There were 658 yes votes. Without the money there could be a fiscal meltdown, which is why school officials intend to go back to the voters.
Before they do, it would behoove the superintendent and members of the school board to reach out to the opposition movement to determine if there is common ground. In addition, the school board may want to ask the Ohio Department of Education for an objective analysis of the district's fiscal health without the operating levy.
In the South Range and Girard school districts, voters embraced bond issues that will provide the local shares of the school construction costs. But the 1,045 no votes in South Range -- 1,082 gave their approval -- and the 1,596 no votes in Girard -- 1,762 said yes -- drive home the point that even the prospect of securing millions of dollars from the state isn't enough to change many residents' minds about paying property taxes.