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| A proposed constitutional amendment that backers say will help fix Ohio's school-funding problems has the backing of Dale McVey, superintendent of the Hilliard City School District. "It will address some of the very big issues that have needed addressing for a long period of time," he said. The proposed amendment places the burden on the Ohio General Assembly for finding money for school districts, with the amount set by the Ohio Board of Education If the amendment is adopted, the burden of funding schools would shift from property-tax payers to the state, backers say. School districts still would need to ask property owners for tax increases -- just less often, said McVey. "It will make school districts less reliant on property taxes to fund schools. It won't eliminate the need to be on the ballot," he said. "It will be a relief to districts like Hilliard that now is on the ballot about every three years." It's not possible to predict just how much the amendment would reduce the frequency of the district's trips to the ballot, said McVey. The proposed amendment calls for a property-tax rollback from 33.8 mills to 20 mills over a six-to-eight-year span, said district Treasurer Brian Wilson. Another rollback factor would benefit senior citizens, he said. Without more state funding, the Hilliard schools will need to ask taxpayers for a property-tax increase in 2008, Wilson said last October. Hilliard received $37.8 million in state aid this school year, which is roughly the same figure granted annually since 2005 even though enrollment is up by 1,000 students since then, said Wilson. The district's five-year financial forecast shows $7.9 million in cuts would have to be made in the 2008-09 school year if a property-tax increase is not granted. The district's financial forecast shows a deficit of $36.5 million in June 2010 and $74 million in June 2011 unless additional tax revenue is received or cuts are made. The proposed constitutional amendment was submitted to Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann by a group of educators on Jan. 17. The group wants voters to decide whether to adopt the amendment in the November general election. |
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