Schools face a balancing act

The message that voters in Canfield and Poland local school districts sent last week was not unique, especially in tight economic times. Most voters are willing to support the district to the extent they have in the past, thus they approved renewal issues. But a strong majority are not convinced that the schools need additional income. Or at least the taxpayers feel they need their money more than the districts need it.

Doubtless voters know that their schools are facing tougher times. School budgets are under many of the same pressures as household budgets.

And voters know that school districts are losing state support, which affects even relatively affluent districts that receive a smaller piece of their budgetary pie from the state.

They know, too, that good schools are vital to a community’s well-being, and Canfield and Poland residents know that their schools are performing better than most.

Difficult challenge

The challenge facing school boards and superintendents as they appeal for passage of additional levies is that of convincing their voters that they have cut their costs to the bone. And the difficulty of that assignment becomes greater with voters who have seen their own incomes stagnate or decline.

Even the most ardent supporters of public education are inclined to reject higher school taxes when they are worried about their jobs, their Social Security and retirement funds and their increasing costs, including health care.

One district in the area that did approve an additional school tax issue was McDonald in Trumbull County. And it was a whopper, 10.75 mills. But even at that, the issue will only produce about $580,000 annually and will be barely enough to dig the district out of fiscal emergency.

No school district wants to end up in fiscal emergency before it can pass a levy.

Which makes it all the more important that districts respond to voters who are demanding that government do more with less by cutting as much as possible. Beyond that, they must convince voters that further cuts would hurt the students, community and taxpayers more than the other stakeholder, district employees.