Anti-school levy group seeks more details

The group wants to know who was cut and when, and how much was saved.

YOUNGSTOWN — A citizens committee opposed to a 9.5-mill school tax levy on the November ballot wants the details of how the Youngstown city schools cut $17 million in spending.

Delores Womack, chairman of the Citizens’ Action Committee Against the Levy, sent a letter to Carolyn Funk, school district treasurer, asking for information on spending reductions as well as a list of the employee payroll from 9/17/05 to 9/17/07, complete with each position classification and pay figures.

The committee wants documentation of the $17 million reduction reported by school officials, Womack’s letter said.

Specifically, the letter requests:

UPosition cut —staff person — date of action.

UDollar figure in savings for each position cut, including fringe benefits shown as a separate figure.

UImpact to bottom line this year.

UComparison to last fiscal year bottom line.

UHow the $17 million figure was reached in specificity.

“We need a comparative analysis on how those cuts impacted on the current fiscal year and how close we are to balancing the budget,” Womack wrote.

“To date all we have had is commentary without factual documentation. Please provide this so that we may help educate the voting public. Based on the information we have to date, we cannot support the request for a levy,” the letter said.

Cut 250 jobs

The district has reported that it cut 250 jobs and trimmed spending by $17 million in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The levy is needed to help cover a $15 million deficit in the 2006-07 general fund budget, according to the district.

In a separate letter, the committee, which Womack said has some two dozen members, also asked the treasurer for copies of fiscal year 2006 and 2007 certifications signed by the treasurer, superintendent and school board president saying that adequate revenues would be available to maintain all personnel and programs for those years.