Gov. Kasich Proposes Income Tax, Sales Tax Cuts in Budget Plan

Check out this video from the governor’s office to learn more about the proposal.

Gov. John Kasich wants to cut income taxes for small businesses and individuals and lower the sales tax in Ohio’s 2014-2015 budget. “Ohio’s taxes are too high,” Kasich said in a video posted to his website. “They hold back job creators and hold back our economy. We need to fix that.” The Columbus Dispatch reports that while the sales tax would decrease from 5.5 percent to 5 percent under the plan, more services would be subject to the tax. Increasing what can be taxed would allow the government to actually bring in more money over time.    The Plain Dealer reports that this proposal includes the first tax rewrite since 2005.  Kasich’s education funding reform plan, which he introduced last week, plays a big part in his budget proposal. …

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Gov. Kasich Proposes Increasing School Funding, Lessening Mandates

The governor’s plan also includes funds for a special grant, designed to encourage schools to try new approaches to increasing achievement and decreasing cost.

Gov. John Kasich today unveiled his school funding reform plan, “Achievement Everywhere,” which aims to distribute funds fairly to districts and give principals more autonomy. The plan will be part of the governor’s overall 2014-2015 budget proposal, which is expected to be released next week. Thursday’s proposal includes $1.2 billion in new money for schools during the next two years.  Kasich told reporters on a conference call Thursday afternoon that the additional money is possible because the state has cut costs in other areas and brought in new jobs, which increases the state’s overall revenue. He said his plan would be fully funded from the start, rather than phased in over time. Ohio’s school funding formula, which is based on …

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Falls Schools Budget in the Clear, Despite $2 Million Setback

At Monday's Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education meeting, treasurer Jerry Zelenka outlined how the district will remain in the black.

Letter to the Editor: $2 Million Saved is $2 Million Earned for Woodridge Local Schools

To offer readers a comprehensive look at what the district has done to stay in the black, Superintendent Walter Davis goes in detail at what's been cut and saved over the last two years.

Over the past two years, the Woodridge Local School District has implemented cost savings measures that have effectively reduced the district budget by 10%.  Budget reductions, reduction in force, and contract changes have occurred in tiered reductions taking place in three phases thus far.   Tier One Reductions – November 2010 Salary and Benefit reductions = $450,000 Non Salary reductions (reducing line items in the budget) = $289,500 Tier Two Reductions – May 2011  Salary and Benefit reductions = $697,000 • 2 Reductions in Force (WMS – Family and Consumer Sciences / WMS – Art) • Reduction of 1 Kindergarten section • Reduction of 1 Third Grade section • Reduction of 1 WHS English position (attrition) • Reduction of 1 Health / Physical …

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Woodridge Schools: Pay-to-Participate Approved, New Levy One Step Away From Ballot

School officials say a new levy is necessary to overcome an $8.6 million budget gap that's expected to split open by 2015.

One measure down, one to go.  During its regular meeting on Tuesday, the Woodridge Board of Education passed the first of two resolutions needed to put a new levy on the Aug. 7 ballot.  The second resolution will come before the board at a special meeting on May 1, said board president Tammy Heffernan.  Once approved, the proposed levy would be virtually the same as March's failed issue: a 6.83-mill, five-year emergency levy that would generate $15 million in revenue and cost homeowners $209 a year for every $100,000 in valuation, according to Woodridge Schools treasurer Deanna Levenger.  School officials say passing a new levy is crucial in avoiding an $8.6 budget gap that's expected to split open by 2015.  Following back-to-back levy …

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Budget Update: Crucial Time for Woodridge Local Schools

From pay-to-participate fees and layoffs to levy proposals and spending freezes, Woodridge Local School officials and the Board of Education have much to consider in the months ahead.

Decisions, decisions. Following the failure of Issue 10 on March 6, the Woodridge Board of Education will soon make some rulings on how to balance the district's beleagured $20 million annual budget. The first decision will come at its next regular meeting on April 17 when the board will have to decide whether or not to institute a pay-to-participate policy.  As it stands, it costs the district $410,000 per year to fund the district's athletic, extracurricular, music and club programs, and its the aim of school officials to "defray" the six-figure price tag, said Woodridge Schools Superintendent Walter Davis. To figure out the best pay system, a pay-to-participate committee, chaired by treasurer Deanna Levenger, was formed last month and …

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Council Addresses Budget, Portage Crossing and Layoffs

Cuyahoga Falls council had a busy Monday night.

Just before the city council meeting commenced, discussion of the four layoffs brought an uncomfortable tension to the room. Today, council eliminated four cleaning service jobs. Bonnie Powell choked back tears as she addressed the room. She is glad to be able to retire at least, though it’s a few years early in her plan. “They tell us not to miss work,” she said. “We don’t miss work and we still lose our jobs.” She and two others spoke of feelings on the cutback situation, pointing out that the jobs are some of the lowest paid in the city. “This is a tough decision,” said council chaplain, Kathy Hummel, before the ordinance was adopted with a 5-4 vote. At the end of the council meeting, Mayor Don Robart weighed in on the situation. “Even …

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Robin Anderson

12:37 pm on Monday, December 19, 2011

Your figures are glaringly exaggerated and, in some instances, outright wrong, Don...at least by what I've read and been told by City officials. The more detailed Falls News article I referenced reported costs only 2-3 times more for in house vs contracted right along with the hourly service provided by each. Our Electric Utility has definitely been reported as "making a profit" and said profit …   more ›

Election 2011

Library Supporters Say Issue 16 Needed for Core Services

Current tax levy expires at the end of the year.

Among the decisions facing voters on the May 3 ballot, is whether to pass a 1.9-mill, replacement tax levy for the Cuyahoga Falls Library. The 1.3-mill levy, currently in place, expires in December.  “We need to replace that levy, or we will lose half our income,” said Library Director Kevin Rosswurm.  Currently operating on a $2.43-million annual budget, the library uses taxes from the levy for resources that include the purchase of materials, such as books and movies, as well as staffing for the library. Recent renovations to the library are separately funded.  Rosswurm said, while he understands that some voters feel they cannot afford or are resistant to the tax levy, others realize that reductions in state funding require that a local…

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Woodridge Teacher Contracts Ratified

The Woodridge Education Association ratifies a new deal with the district.

The Woodridge Education Association ratified a new three-year contract with the Woodridge Local Schools district on Wednesday. “I am very excited that the last year of negotiations has come to a successful end,” said Melissa Wilkinson, school board vice president. Details on the changes made to the contracts are not available, Wilkinson said the board of education will vote on the contract and discuss the changes and specifics at its meeting on Monday. Follow Cuyahoga Falls Patch for continuing coverage of this story!

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Cuyahoga Falls School Board Starts Superintendent Search

With proposal to share superintendent with Woodridge schools off the table, Falls school board starts looking under a tight deadline.

The Cuyahoga Falls school board is now looking for a superintendent after a plan to share the post with Woodridge schools fell through Monday. Cuyahoga Falls school board President Therese Dunphy told the school board at its meeting Monday night, that Woodridge Superintendent Walter Davis called her Monday afternoon to remove his name for consideration. “I hope that as we move forward, we look for other opportunities and other ways to share services, to increase buying power, to look at running things more efficiently,” she said. A meeting between the Cuyahoga Falls and Woodridge school boards last week brought to light a number of ways the two districts could share services and some of those suggestions could still come true. “One of the …