Levy talk delayed for accounting

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The administration proposes additional job eliminations as buildings close.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Members of the city board of education say they don't have enough information on the district's finances to determine how much of a tax increase is needed to erase a budget deficit.

The board was supposed to vote today on putting perhaps two tax levies on the November ballot, but, after a two-hour meeting with administrators Monday, opted to delay that vote.

Board members made it clear that they are dissatisfied with the amount of financial information they've received from the district administration and aren't prepared to decide how much of a tax increase voters will be asked to approve.

They will met again in special session at 5 p.m. Thursday to pick up where Monday's meeting ended. They gave the administration a list of additional information they want, including a look at all the budget-cutting options the administration has considered.

The district is running out of time to make a decision on any tax levy. Friday is the deadline for filing a request with the county election board to secure a November ballot spot.

The district has been talking about a 12-mill, five-year emergency levy that would generate about $6 million a year in new revenue, along with a 2.5-mill permanent improvement levy that would generate about $1.25 million a year.

However, Treasurer Carolyn Funk told the board that earlier predictions of a $4 million budget deficit for the fiscal year just ended June 30 and $12 million for the current fiscal year have been revised to about $2 million $8 million, respectively.

Accordingly, the administration is now recommending an 8.5-million emergency five-year levy and a 2-mill permanent improvement levy, she said.

The district's red ink could be eliminated by the end of fiscal 2009-10 if an 8.5-mill levy is passed, she predicted.

Fearing state intervention

The state has put Youngstown into its fiscal watch category because of the budget deficits, and school officials say they want to avoid a fiscal emergency rating, which would result in the state appointing an oversight committee that would take over the district's finances.

The board said it wants more details on possible cuts in transportation, the non-teaching staff, the self-funded health insurance plan and other areas in time for Thursday's meeting.

Members said they can't ask the public to approve a tax increase without first showing the district has done all it can to reduce spending.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent, said the administration is proposing a series of closures of old buildings and about 50 staff reductions over the next three years as Youngstown completes a $192 million building construction program.

The district needs to show the public that it is being fiscally responsible and cutting back staff and facilities in an effort to reduce spending.

The savings should eventually amount to more than $7 million a year, Webb said, noting the cutbacks include administrators, custodians, secretaries and others, but not teachers.

Teacher cutbacks were figured in earlier staff reductions, she said, noting Youngstown has already implemented an $8.5 million cost reduction program for this year, primarily by eliminating about 100 jobs, including 56 teachers and some 20 administrators.

gwin@vindy.com

Tuesday, August 8, 2006