POLL: Will You Vote for the Upcoming Woodridge Levy?
If approved, the five-year, 6.83-mill levy would generate $15 million and cost taxpayers $209 per year for every $100,000 in valuation.
Photos
The Woodridge Board of Education has less than two months to figure out how it can pass a 6.83-mill levy aimed at generating $15 million over the next five years.
The hard part? Convincing a small but evasive percentage of voters to take on the extra $209 per year in property taxes for every $100,000 in valuation.
The last two levies -- proposed this past November and March -- failed by under 250 votes apiece, according to the Summit County Board of Elections.
In April, the board held three voter forums to determine why it couldn't capture the decisive minority. The consensus among voters was the board needed to be more transparent with its financials and should take action against the WEA and OAPSE to renogotiate collective bargaining agreements that make up over 80 percent of the district's $20 million annual budget.
The union contracts don't expire till the summer of 2013, and neither association has agreed to come to the table.
However, the board has taken several measures to keep the budget in the black.
Following March's levy failure, school officials approved a revenue-generating pay-to-participate plan and have implemented seven-figure expenditure cuts since 2010.
$2 Million Saved Is $2 Million Earned for Woodridge Local Schools
The budget will remain in the black by about $300,000 throughout the 2013-14 school year; yet, by the end of 2015, available revenue will not meet expenditures and the school system will sink $8.6 million in the red unless a levy is passed, according to Woodridge treasurer Deanna Levenger.
Will you vote to pass the levy? Take the poll or leave a comment below.
John Deike
9:50 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Offer your thoughts on why the levy should pass/fail.
Adam C. Miller
4:58 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Enrollment down. Budget in the 'black'. Why do they need a levy?
W. Davis
5:43 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Enrollment is not down. Unlike most surrounding districts, Woodridge had a record enrollment this past school year. The district is facing a major deficit and has not had a NEW levy since 2004. That levy - which was forecast to last only 5 years - has lasted for 8. We have reduced the general fund budget by 10% ($2.1 million) over the past two years.
Adam C. Miller
6:44 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thanks for the info.
W. Davis
10:46 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
The Woodridge Levy Committee will meet this Wednesday evening (6/20) at 6:30 p.m. in the Woodridge High School Library. Community members are invited to get involved in the campaign.
John Deike
10:58 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
Thanks for the info!
David Kearns
9:06 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Woodridge is the best school system for miles and miles around, we are small but have been growing. We are just a school district, there is no "Woodridge City". The Ohio Lottery ought to provide us more money and less for under-performing larger cities with more people to do more. We have less people, and we are all stretched to the max, with the new pay to play, which I understand, but we could use some HELP HERE!
bntgrare
12:01 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Louis Vuitton once said that he could know what kind of person you were if he looked at your suitcase, we know that makes sense. And after so many years of evolution et development, vintage <b><a href="http://www.outletlouisvuittonhandbagsonsale.com">Louis Vuitton Handbags</a></b> as the most immemorial item in the big House, it has won great popularity, and which is one of the reason why this brand was known by people all around the world, vintage <b><a href="http://www.outletlouisvuittonhandbagsonsale.com/louis-vuitton-watches-c-154.html">Louis Vuitton Watches</a></b> could be dated from the old era, at that time it was closely related to the palace and nobility, so we can image that it must be designed with superb quality and refined workmanship, just because of these advantages, it's allowed to obtain the favor of aristocracy. And nowadays, it's also the best loved companion in our lives, especially the journey and popular stars. Talking about its evolutionary process, there are a lot of changes that have occurred, and we will talk about a little about this subject. In 1927, <b><a href="http://www.outletlouisvuittonhandbagsonsale.com/louis-vuitton-luggage-c-77.html">Louis Vuitton Luggage</a></b> provided some sense of luxury to the tourists.