43
Bill would allow levies for school security
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
School districts could ask voters to approve property-tax levies to fund security improvements, under legislation OK’d by the Ohio Senate on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 42 passed on a vote of 31-2 and heads to the Ohio House for further consideration.
Under existing law, districts can propose levies for numerous purposes, including to cover current expenses, technology improvements and library, park and cultural center projects. But security improvements are not specifically mentioned.
SB 42 would allow districts to place levy requests before voters, stipulating that the proceeds would be used for school safety and security measures. That includes the hiring of staff, improvements to entryways or other security systems.
Sen. Gayle Manning, a Republican from North Ridgeville who co-sponsored the bill, said the legislation was written to ensure funds raised by approved levies could not be shifted for a district’s everyday expenses or other costs.
“The dollars generated by this levy would not be used for anything else,” she said.
Sen. Randy Gardner, a Republican from Bowling Green, added, “This protects taxpayers. This gives schools the freedom ... to do what they believe is right and what taxpayers must agree to be right for the children. ... We believe it is a key right for local schools to do something additional [for security] if they believe it is in the best interest of their children.”
But several Democrats voiced concern about the legislation, including Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd. He voted in favor of the bill, but “reluctantly.”
“This bill may help some school districts and ultimately make those schools safer, helping kids and protecting kids ...,” he said. “But this is not a solution, and it’s not even close to the solution that we need in order to protect our kids adequately.”
Sen. Mike Skindell, a Democrat from Cleveland, said the bill wouldn’t ensure the safety of children at all schools across the state and was another example of the state shifting funding to local taxpayers.