Failed levy could spur up to $8 million in cuts

By LORI WINCE Tuesday September 30, 2014 11:12 AM

The New Albany-Plain Local school board on Sept. 22 reviewed as much as $8 million in potential cuts if Issue 3 were to fail in the November general election.

Issue 3 includes a 6.9-mill operating levy and a 2-mill permanent-improvements levy. Both levies would be permanent.

The operating levy would generate $5.74 million each year and cost district homeowners about $241.50 per $100,000 of assessed property value, according to Dave O'Neil of the Franklin County Auditor's Office.

The permanent-improvements levy would generate $1.66 million per year and cost district homeowners about $70 per $100,000 of assessed property value, according to O'Neil.

District officials have said the operating levy would prevent a $5 million deficit in fiscal year 2016 and allow the district to continue progress on its strategic plan.

The permanent-improvements levy would help the district with building maintenance, which includes repairing roofs, replacing heating and cooling systems, repaving parking lots and purchasing buses and textbooks. The improvements are expected to cost $21.5 million over 10 years.

The school board had asked for a list of potential cuts that would be made if Issue 3 fails. The board is expected to approve the list this month.

District Treasurer Rebecca Jenkins said the district needs to cut $7.5 million out of the budget so it does not have a zero balance at the end of June 2016.

The proposed cuts actually total $8 million, $566,386 in excess of the goal district officials had set for the budget reductions.

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Failed levy could spur up to $8 million in cuts