Schools

Avon Lake Superintendent Calls For Action Against Kasich Budget

No specifics yet on how projected $4.4 million annual deficit will affect school district.

Approximately 60 people showed up at an informational meeting April 19 to hear how Gov. John Kasich’s proposed cuts will affect the school district, and to hear a “call for action” from the district’s superintendent.

Some audience members in the Performing Arts Center questioned how the school would combat the cuts, however Superintendent Bob Scott and president Chuck Froehlich opted not to discuss specifics or whether a levy would be required if the cuts went through.

“This is an important discussion we need to have early in the process” Scott said before handing over the microphone to district treasurer Denise Holcomb, who went over “before” and “after” financial scenarios involving the governor’s two-year budget.

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Total cuts from the state budget result in a $4.4 million loss over the next two years, including (numbers shown are for 2012 and 2013, respectively); loss of state funding ($1.046 million and $746,779); loss from electric deregulation, ($728,432 and $1.456 million); and loss from Tangible Person Property (TPP) taxes ($735,254 and $1.47 million).

“We’re losing 4.4 million a year, and every year after that,” Scott said. “That’s a pretty big hole. Were we caught by surprise? Without a doubt.”

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Those cuts are on top of losses from property value decreases. Due to the recession, Avon Lake’s property valuation has decreased approximately $45 million or $640,000 of revenue for the school.

“We’ve been hit triply hard by Gov. Kasich’s budget,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb displayed the district’s 5-year forecast that shows expenses increasing from $38.8 million this year to $44 million in 2015.

Audience members questioned the growing gap and how it would be addressed, including whether residents can expect another levy.

“What’s your plan to save $8 million bucks?” one audience member asked, referring to Kasich’s proposed cuts.

Scott said decisions regarding levies were a board of education decision and they would not be discussed before November. Efforts are currently underway to add a referendum on Kasich’s budget to the November ballot.

He noted plans have been scrapped to add six new teachers, which will shave $1 million off future expenditures.

After discussing ways the district has enacted savings, including self-funding its health care which has saved more than $6 million in the past five years, Scott said he was looking to resident to contact the governor’s office and members of the House of Representatives and Senate, including Rep. Matt Lundy and Sen. Gayle Manning, who represent Avon Lake.

“What’s being lost in this is what effect is this going to have on our schools, on our teachers and on our students,” Scott said. “This is a process,” Scott said of where the bill is and where will go.

He said he has met with both State Rep. Matt Lundy and State Senator Gayle Manning.

“Both of them are aghast,” Scott said. “The schools being hurt the most are also the highest performing districts I the state,” Scott said. “There’s something wrong with that.”

Following the discussion, audience reaction was mixed. Several members thought the district was taking the right approach by not being specific of what cuts might be enacted if the budget passes while others were hoping to hear more details of how it might affect students.


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