School levy renewals spotlight state’s failure to act on funding

Every election, when there are school levy renewals on the ballot, we first and foremost urge voters to say yes, arguing that these aren’t new taxes, and then we harshly criticize the Ohio General Assembly for ignoring several Supreme Court rulings regarding the funding of primary and secondary public education.

And each time we get the same response from a goodly number of voters — “We’re taxed out” — and from legislators — “We’ve adhered to the court’s opinions by spending billions on the school construction and upgrading.”

But the fact remains, as it has for a long time, that financing primary and secondary education through local property taxes is unconstitutional because the system does not provide for a thorough and efficient education across the board. Some districts are richer than others, and even while state government has attempted to level the field there still are haves and have-nots.

But without the political will to change the way public education in Ohio is funded — Republican legislators and Republican governors must shoulder the blame — property taxes will remain the source of revenue for school districts.

That means appealing to the voters. There was a time in the not too distant past when we endorsed all school funding issues on the ballot — the only exception being income taxes for schools — but today, given the reality of the local economy, we no longer use a broad brush.

We continue to support the renewal of school levies because the taxes are already on the books and are being paid by property owners in the school district. But when it comes to an increase in the taxes, we leave it up to the voters.

Thus, for the May 5 primary election, there are six school levy renewals, one additional levy and one bond issue.

We urge approval of the six, knowing that even a renewal has become an iffy proposition. They are:

Hubbard schools — A 4.9-mill five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements.

Liberty schools — A 7.75-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements.

Lordstown schools — A 5.4-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements; also, a 5.9-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements.

Maplewood schools — A 5.4-mill, 10-year renewal levy for emergency requirements.

Newton Falls schools — A 4.55-mill, five-year renewal levy for emergency requirements.

The two issues we aren’t endorsing are:

South Range schools — 4.9-mill, three-year additional levy for emergency requirements.

Lakeview schools — A 4.55-mill, 37-year bond issue for constructing, adding to, renovating, remodeling, furnishing, equipping and otherwise improving school district buildings and facilities, clearing, improving and equipping their sites; also, a 0.5-mill, continuing additional levy to provide for funds for acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing of general permanent improvements.

It is fortunate for the South Range School District that we aren’t taking a position on the additional levy because we have an ongoing disagreement with the school board over the appointment of a member.

We believe the board violated Ohio’s open meeting laws in naming Amy White to the seat vacated by Bruce Zinz.

The action has been challenged by a lawyer representing a resident of the district, while one of the foremost legal experts on Ohio’s Sunshine and public records laws says White’s presence on the board does not pass legal muster.