Youngstown schools’ future hangs in a financial balance

Each school district in this region that has a levy on the Nov. 4 ballot can make the case that passage is essential to its fiscal stability.

But there is only one district that is in danger of reaching a point of no return if voters say no to its funding request.

The Youngstown City Schools District is in fiscal emergency, has been under the control of a state fiscal oversight commission for the past two years, owes the state $12.7 million and will have to borrow an additional $10.4 million this year.

The new loan will cover this year’s payment on the original loan and ensure that the district keeps its doors open through the fiscal year.

If district voters approve the 9.5-mill, four-year levy next month, the $5.3 million a year it is expected to generate would go toward paying off the state.

With that loan removed from the books, the school district will be debt-free because significant budget cuts have been made over the past several years.

Last year alone, $5 million was slashed when the board of education eliminated 176 positions — 33 administrative and 143 teacher and other posts. Fringe benefit costs have been reduced by $1 million.

Taxpayers’ demands

In other words, members of the administration, led by Superintendent Dr. Wendy Webb, and the school board are doing what the taxpayers have been demanding for years.

Indeed, the failure of the levy in March sent a clear signal that the voters weren’t convinced the budget had been cut to the bone.

It has, as Roger Nehls, chairman of the state fiscal oversight commission, has said — over and over again.

The district has also reached out to the community by forming a citizens advisory committee to analyze spending and look over the district’s operations.

Board members, led by Lock Beachum, a former principal and city councilman, have made it clear that the recommendations of the committee will be taken seriously.

That’s good, because there remains a credibility problem when it comes to selling the idea that the district is as lean as it can be.

Defeat of the levy will throw the system into a financial tailspin that may be unstoppable.

It is not an exaggeration to suggest that as the school system goes, so goes the city of Youngstown.

The ability of City Hall to attract new companies, especially those that depend on an educated workforce, is inextricably tied to the reputation of the city schools.

Passage of the 9.5-mill levy is essential.