The Observation Deck

The LECPTA has organized a School Board Candidate Forum and as of today all were invited and only one has replied. There are five running. As far as I know this is the only forum scheduled for the Board so far.

What's the story?

The Lakewood School District is facing a $10 million dollar deficit in 2010 and $20 million dollar deficit in 2011. My guess is that they are afraid someone is going to ask about their plans to balance the budget.

They would much rather run a campaign for school board that consists of platitudes about "It's all for the children".

With the Mayors plan for a 33% income tax increase, the water departments need for further rate increases and the school board's plan for a $10 million dollar a year property tax increase this City is heading for a fiscal triple play than can cripple its future.

Think about that for a minute. $17 million a year in planned tax increases just to pay for what you have already have.

If you thought the school board candidates would want to discuss the coming fiscal train wreck you thought wrong.

The way the schools are financed, I believe, has been ruled unconstitutional in Ohio. Rising operating costs, just keeping even with inflation, are not covered by rising revenue streams.

In light of the impending fiscal crisis though, I do think that it is doubly important the the City and School Board do everything in their power to collect outstanding debt. I think it's appalling that the schools are not receiving all the income that they are entitled to.

Mr. Call, who has been invaluable in posting information in other threads, is either misinformed or deliberately misleading here.

The 5-year forecasts are required by state law and also by law, cannot include potential revenue increases. No entity, be it a business a family or a school district, can predict five years in advance. Beyond that, what business or family can predict what their bototm line will be WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN REVENUE? Businesses raise prices or increase sales. Families get raises. Even seniors on "fixed incomes" get annual increases. The five-year forecast based on "flat-line" revenue is absurd.
Schools are not allowed to operate on deficits. If there is a shortfall they will be required to borrow money from state funds and repay it, plus interest. That will happen along with cutting programs, increasing class sizes, etc.
The $20 million "train wreck" doesn't note that the number cited is equivalent to less than 4 months of school operating expenses.
Where was Mr. Call when, after the last operating levy (in 2001!!!) the schools were projecting 5 year surpluses? Where is Mr. Call when every other district in Ohio has asked for operating levies while Lakewood has held the line for 7 years? How does Mr. Call feel about Strongsville, which is now laying off teachers because yet another levy was defeated?

It is not my intent to challenge Mr. Call personally so I urge everyone reading this to NOT take MY word for it. Please investigate on your own. If you dont trust your own adminsitration or school board, seek out a school board member from another district. But whatever it takes, please make an informed decision.

My guess is they couldn't predict the decline in property value and large number of foreclosures. How much will that effect the numbers?

I think these conversations are good...I sure would like to hear them from the people who get to actually decide what happens.

The number is up to two Matt Markling and current member Linda Beebe.
I hope the rest will follow if they want people to vote for them. A great thanks to the ones that stepped forward.