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The income tax generates about $500,000 a year
SEBRING
Sebring School District voters again rejected renewal of a five-year, 1 percent income tax that raises about $500,000 a year.
The vote at Tuesday’s special election, as certified by the Mahoning County Board of Elections, was 272 against and 233 for.
Voters also turned down the income-tax renewal at the Nov. 3, 2015, general election by 560 to 511, or 49 votes.
The losing margin Tuesday was reduced to 39, according to the elections board.
Schools Superintendent Toni Viscounte said she would make recommendations on cuts next week and that it’s likely the issue will be placed on the November general-election ballot.
The filing deadline is next Wednesday.
Viscounte said the $500,000 generated by the income tax is part of the operating budget and said she plans to immediately begin looking at cuts, which likely would be in the area of busing, pay-to-play and groups such as Spanish Club.
She said a couple of teacher aides and an administrative position were nonrenewed in the spring and definitely will not be called back.
“Without that money, at the end of the five-year financial forecast, we’ll be in trouble,” she said.
The are no teaching staff members that can be cut, she said.
There is only one-half of an art teacher at the elementary level and one full-time art teacher at the high school level.
“People don’t realize that a ‘no’ vote hurts the children. I think we have to do a better job educating the public. There is still a little misunderstanding,” Viscounte said.