Millions In Cuts Coming As Levy Fails | WBNS-10TV, Central Ohio...

My point is, Mr. Dackin, if the voters would have KNOWN that these programs were to be cut, they wouldn't have voted YES for a BUILDING levy and would have much rather voted YES on an operating levy 2 years ago. The board KNEW that these operating funds were dangerously low and decided to lie by omission and throw a building levy on the ballot instead. Now they are guilting the homeowners into (signifigantly) more money for operating funds.

I voted yes for this levy and the last one but I am not angry at the people who voted no, only the people in charge that have deceived us. My kids currently have no art, music, gym class, etc., yet I am paying high taxes. I'm very disappointed in the way this whole thing was set up. It was very deceiving and now our kids (and home values) are paying the price.

Maybe they should start by looking at the administrators salaries.

I don't feel anyone was deceived. I recall being told there would have to be an operating levy at some time. But the money from the state to build the new schools - which for the high school is truly needed - was being - was contingent upon Reyn. coming up with its share. So I don't regret that. Shoudl the funds ever have gotten so low. Well, no. Would I have ever foresen us being in the situation we are in today. No! To be fair, Mr Dackin was not the super. back then. He's playing with the cards dealt him and making impossible decisions that surely no good come from. The question is now - how do we fix this? Of all the people that didn't care enough to vote either way (there were thousands!)- how do we get those people to care just enough to vote for the schools? Thos people who voted no becasue they think the district is not budget-minded... what information is it the we need to supply them with to perhaps get them to consider changin their minds. My children adore their teachers and I am not about to give up on this district. I love my home, my neighbors and the wonderful teachers at our schools. Please, those of you that question the necessity of the tax levy, look at the facts, make time to talk with Mr Dackin. Please go to the source for your information - not your neighbor, not the barber, not the fellow shopper at the grocery - all well meaning but perhaps not the most well-informed.

reynoldsburg resident wrote:

My point is, Mr. Dackin, if the voters would have KNOWN that these programs were to be cut, they wouldn't have voted YES for a BUILDING levy and would have much rather voted YES on an operating levy 2 years ago. The board KNEW that these operating funds were dangerously low and decided to lie by omission and throw a building levy on the ballot instead. Now they are guilting the homeowners into (signifigantly) more money for operating funds.
I voted yes for this levy and the last one but I am not angry at the people who voted no, only the people in charge that have deceived us. My kids currently have no art, music, gym class, etc., yet I am paying high taxes. I'm very disappointed in the way this whole thing was set up. It was very deceiving and now our kids (and home values) are paying the price.

So you were decieved eh? Well how about that. You probably do the right things in life and yet you run up against these "Gas With Oily Discharge" types who do not care one whit about you or your kids or anyone else except for how they can lie to you cheat you and steal from you via taxes. Didja catch that the Marxist in chief and his crisis mongers are heading to Wisconsin to unveil a new education directive? That means your kids will be stuffed even more so with hatred for this country, hatred for hard work, disgust for the rule of law, and a love for a freebie and handout. And here's the kicker, the schools will teach your kids that it is YOUR fault the levy failed and not the administration's fault. Do yourself a favor and remove your children from the influence of this filth.

Dear livein43068:

people have different opinions, they think differently, and in this country we have freedom. we do not have to vote if we choose not too. that IS democracy. MANY people are tired of LARGE administrator's salaries, and really government in general!

Maybe you need to go to the source for more info.

livein43068 wrote:

I don't feel anyone was deceived. I recall being told there would have to be an operating levy at some time. But the money from the state to build the new schools - which for the high school is truly needed - was being - was contingent upon Reyn. coming up with its share. So I don't regret that. Shoudl the funds ever have gotten so low. Well, no. Would I have ever foresen us being in the situation we are in today. No! To be fair, Mr Dackin was not the super. back then. He's playing with the cards dealt him and making impossible decisions that surely no good come from. The question is now - how do we fix this? Of all the people that didn't care enough to vote either way (there were thousands!)- how do we get those people to care just enough to vote for the schools? Thos people who voted no becasue they think the district is not budget-minded... what information is it the we need to supply them with to perhaps get them to consider changin their minds. My children adore their teachers and I am not about to give up on this district. I love my home, my neighbors and the wonderful teachers at our schools. Please, those of you that question the necessity of the tax levy, look at the facts, make time to talk with Mr Dackin. Please go to the source for your information - not your neighbor, not the barber, not the fellow shopper at the grocery - all well meaning but perhaps not the most well-informed.

I was deceived and would not have voted for the bond levy to build two additional schools had I known the financial status of the district. Now I am hopeful that the teachers union will get onboard and agree to a wage freeze, including step increases and that the two schools will not be built and the money I have already paid as a result of the recent bond levy will be refunded to me. Once this is done, I will consider changing my NO vote to a YES vote, once the board determines the actual amount needed to poerate the schools. I honestly get confused, is it 6.8, 15.6, 9.9...pick a number any number !

The sad thing about the whole situation is that the children suffer....We sold our home and moved out of the Reynoldsburg district over the summer so that our children would no longer have to attend the school. It was a sad situation last year when the levy didnt pass and they made the announcement of all the cuts (music, PE, and art) for elem students, transportation for most, and some of the teachers that had been there for a while.

I've lived in Reynoldsburg for 10 years now and am very sad as to the current state of affairs in the city. My kids are just now becoming school age and if we didn't already plant roots here, we would probably consider moving to a city like Gahanna, New Albany or Pickerington. Those are cities whose citizens care for their students and pass and support school levies when needed or required. With all of the previous news about the demise of the South-West school district and their failed levies, I guess Reynoldsburg will now be the "biggest loser" since the citizens of the South-West school district finally passed their levy, barely, but passed none-the-less. The main question is what to do next or where do we go from here? Is another vote on the ballot in May an option? Maybe the fourth times a charm. We are Raiders... for the time being.

I too feel bad for the schools but at the same time us voters made a clear statement regarding taxes. My home went into escrow shortage due to the spikes in Reynoldsburg taxes since we built our house in 2004. I am puzzled as to why the schools are short on revenue. All of the new homes built during the housing boom should have generated tons of new tax revenue but I guess that doesn't matter...

I personally voted yes for the levy but I was very close to changing my mind at the last minute. I don't think we were provided with enough details on exactly which programs would be restored and to what extent. I do know that someone else waiting to vote changed their mind and voted no because another voter in line said that they were told by a Taylor Rd teacher that busing was not returning and that the music, art, and gym would not be restored.

I personaly called the admin, offices to ask exactly how busing would be restored for RHS and I was not given any concrete answer; they would need until January to figure it out.

I do not like handing my money over when I am not told how it will be used. My fear is that the levy would pass and they would not restore anything or the changes would be so minimal that they would be useless.

It is time for that transparency!

PLO I hope you didn't move into the southwestern district! ALL these school boards are becoming the same as big government tax and spend!!

I see a pattern here. You guys complain about admin salaries, as did the smart informed citizens of SWSC. Unfortunately, saying NO 5 thousand times doesn't matter because they will shove it down your throat 5 thousand and 1 times until they get their way. They will take from the kids before they will take from themselves. For some odd reason, winning by 400 votes is some sort of victory for them.

Almost every school system in the country is in the same boat. The average taxpayer is simply tapped out. The time has come to make some serious decisions on how we want to educate our kids. Simply taxing every homeowner until they can't afford a home anymore is not the answer. The only solution that makes sense is for schools to move to a tuition based system. If your kid goes to public school, then you'll have to pay some reasonable amount. I figure 2000-3000 dollars per child per year. That's not that bad when you consider most people drop over 5 grand a year on day care! Kids are expensive---get used to it!

every time a levy fails we get threats from the school of cuts. Schools dont budget then want the public to give them more money. What happens when you dont budget right at home, who helps us? Where do we get more money?

My god look at what the schools look like today. All the extras, I remember no air conditioning or anything in my day.

Ive made up my mind, everytime a tax issue is on the ballot, I will mail all my tenants notices of how much their rent will increase to cover my costs of it passing. Renters dont understand the money comes from the landlords pockets. No more I'm passing it on to them, they voted for it, they pay for it.

I voted YES for our kids and teachers, as it was the only option for our family.
The $ in Reynoldsburg's school district is highly mismanaged...I see it first hand. We don't have funds to operate 2 new schools...It is just not there (with or without this levy). The board and administrators should carefully evaluate each individual school building for ways that funds are being wasted (this has NOT been done and getting rid of art, music, and gym should never have been the answer). Administrators should have to take pay cuts if they are unable to perform their jobs in the most efficent ways, just like with any other career. The district is paying for many things just in the school board office that is a waste of tax payers $ to fund the schools.
The board should have looked to increase income tax not property tax.
Those individuals that live in the MANY apartment communities and rent their homes should have to pay towards the district just the same as we as homeowners do. Maybe if the income tax was the option we could have had this levy passed...Now the kids and those teachers that lost their jobs are the ones that are suffering.
All we can do from here is come together as a community and ty and find solutions...No one else is going to do it for us!

F SWCS wrote:

I see a pattern here. You guys complain about admin salaries, as did the smart informed citizens of SWSC. Unfortunately, saying NO 5 thousand times doesn't matter because they will shove it down your throat 5 thousand and 1 times until they get their way. They will take from the kids before they will take from themselves. For some odd reason, winning by 400 votes is some sort of victory for them.

How much should an administrator make? How many administrators are needed in a school? How much spending is too much? Why do feel it necessary too call anyone with a different view as you dumb?

So sad, too bad. How many times do the voters have to tell the school administrators "enough is enough!" If the school board members are that concerned about making cuts, perhaps they should work for a $1.00 per month and decline the health benefits that are a perk of the job. They are getting paid a lot of money for what little they do. They probably spend more money on trying to get the levies to pass, instead of just accepting the inevitable. Why can't those with children in school PAY for art classes, gym & etc. Maybe the teachers in the union should appreciate the fact that having a job is more important than getting a pay raise. There are too many people without work right now who just cannot afford extra property taxes. Maybe those with kids in school will get a clue as to how difficult it is for seniors living on social security to keep adding property taxes to pay for our schools. Oh that's right, social security won't be around because it is going to all of the illegal aliens coming into this country who are getting a free ride.

Hedley wrote:

All of the new homes built during the housing boom should have generated tons of new tax revenue but I guess that doesn't matter...

That also means more students and more costs.