Posted: 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2014

ELECTION 2014

Votes to be certified this week

By Michael D. Pitman

Staff Writer

    BUTLER COUNTY — The Middletown City School District may find out as early as today the fate of its $55 million bond issue and tax levy, or at least if the handful of uncounted Warren County votes will matter.

    Unofficial elections results from the May 6 primary election show the bond issue and 0.26-mill permanent improvement levy passing by total of 18 votes — up by 50 votes in Butler County and down by 32 votes in Warren County. And with potential 61 uncounted votes — 53 in Butler County and potentially eight in Warren County — an unofficial Election Day win could flip-flop into an official election loss, and with it millions of dollars in state funding.

    Superintendent Sam Ison declined to talk in detail about the possibilities of what could happen today.

    “I’m happy the process is moving forward toward the official certification of results and grateful for all the votes in support of the district,” he said.

    At stake is $40 million from the Ohio School Facilities Commission. Middletown will receive that money only if it can pass the $55 million bond issue to serve as a match. That collective $95 million would raze the 1923-built middle school on Girard Avenue, build a new middle school on the grounds of the high school on Breiel Boulevard and make upgrades to the high school.

If the levy does not pass, the district would lose out on this funding from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission and go to the back of the line in attempts to get additional funding.

The Butler County Board of Elections on Monday validated 308 of 344 provisional ballots cast in the primary election. Six of the 59 provisional ballots from Middletown were rendered invalid, according to the Board of Elections. None of the 21 uncounted absentee ballots that came in after    Election Day but postmarked on or before May 5 were from Middletown.

    There are six uncounted provisional and two uncounted absentee ballots in Warren County, and the validity of those ballots will be determined today.

    Today, Butler County elections employees will begin counting the 41,000 ballots cast in the May primary, and the board will meet on Wednesday to certify its election. On Thursday, Warren     County elections employees will count the 22,000-plus ballots cast in the primary and the board will meet that day to certify that county’s election.

    If the success or failure of the Middletown election issue falls within a half-percent, the Ohio Secretary of State will order an automatic recount that must be conducted five days after. If the recount is ordered Friday, the Butler and Warren county boards of elections can conduct the recount on May 28.

    Ashley Baumgarten, a Middletown resident and opponent of the bond issue and tax levy, said, “Hopefully this will fail. I don’t want the school to be demolished. That’s part of our history. I think it’s totally asinine (to say) kids will learn better in a newer building. That strategy for the campaign is ridiculous.”

    While she said she’s a “firm believer” in doing what’s best for the children of Middletown, “I want this to fail because kids can be taught anywhere.”

    Middle school principal Michael Valenti previously told the Journal-News the school, which houses 830 students in grades seven and eight, is frequently in need of repairs, and is “not a healthy situation” for the students. District officials said it will cost less to build a new middle school than to repair the existing school.

WHAT’S NEXT

Key dates for the Middletown City School District concerning the election count of its bond issue and levy:

Tuesday: The Butler County Board of Elections will conduct the official run of the May 6 primary and include all uncounted valid provisional and absentee ballots; the Warren County Board of Elections will meet to determine the validity of its 15 provisional ballots, six of which are in Middletown.

Wednesday: The Butler County Board of Elections will meet to certify the primary election.

Thursday: The Warren County Board of Elections will conduct the official run of the May 6 primary and include all uncounted valid provisional and absentee ballots, and meet to certify the election.

May 28: If the Middletown bond issue/levy falls within the automatic recount parameters (in this case if it passes or fails by 29 or fewer votes), this is the earliest date that the recount can be ordered by the Ohio Secretary of State.

Source: County boards of elections

 

I think I just heard them cue the plus-size singer. just 1chmoore.

Yeah, that extra $100 + per year in taxes is sure to be the tipping point. All the calls to Columbus won't stop the bulldozers. just 1chmoore.

chmoore1 wrote: Yeah, that extra $100 + per year in taxes is sure to be the tipping point. All the calls to Columbus won't stop the bulldozers. just 1chmoore.

The money is irrelevant ch. The WASTE and ROI of the money is the discussion. We, who are now forced to pay, will get nothing in return. Neither will the levy supporters who will never admit the losing cause.

Congratulations chmoore1. You and your supporters have apparently won the battle......hopefully, not the war.

IMO, we will see more of the same failure continue in the new schools as well. A given. I still don't understand how the pro-levy people can look at the numbers after several decades and support this pathetic excuse for a learning system. The numbers, time and time again, show a last place finisher with no upward mobility. Most people who go to the track don't place money on the last place horse, deemed the traditional loser in a race. The new elementary's have had enough time to show that the new school theory is the right one, yet, they have shown us nothing but the same stagnation. Your new middle school and addition to the high school will show no progress either 5-8 years from now. Safest bet one could make. It is taxpayer money that will be totally wasted..... just like the elementary's.

You and your new school friends should be happy in your new found success. You can be sure that close to half of the voting pool is in disagreement with your camp. You have just enough support to get you over the edge. Hardly a vote of confidence. You enjoy. Some of us cringe at wasted effort.

Misguided malevolent Acclaro: you have me confused with someone else. I am not retired, but approaching the age; I would never state my earnings on this blog, but it has been above the adage of "salary equal to your age." And my goodness: your statement "Moore, you said you were a retiree making less than $35,000 yearly, so I really don't value your opinion frankly, nor your avocation." Isn't that quaint. My opinion means nothing to you because you think I'm retired and make $33,000. Just so you know, I don't value your opinion at all, being YOU'RE A NARCISSISTIC IDIOT! Start calling those state reps. It will take up some of your free time. However, it's not going to stop the bulldozers. Maybe if you chain yourself to a tree....    Just 1chmoore, proudly waving the MCSD banner.   GO MIDDIES! Fired up, ready to go!

Moore; you may want to re-read your post to Viet Vet regarding your retirement claim and income earnings associated with the Homestead property tax cap. I knew you'd impeach yourself.

You may be better served by calling the midwife as you usually summon a beckon for help, Marcia Andrew. You have no earthy idea what has been occurring behind the scenes the past four weeks. I wouldn't waste thirty seconds on a call to a state rep, but there has been a team assembled, and ready for war. Your trusted calculator won't help you in this battle. Better to put the cork back on the champagne.

Pompous arrogance and over-reach has consequence. Release the hounds. It begins, and was prepared for several weeks ago..

There will never be another levy that goes unopposed with deep opposition, and funding.

Those bulldozers will be going nowhere. Trust us.  

Now.....go find your post retiree Moore, that you discuss the Homestead advantage. There are many that have had enough of tactics used to bulldoze people over. It has ended.    

 

Acclaro: my LSAT score was 180.   Yours? (Got the bulldozer) "fired up, ready to go"! GO MIDDIES!   just 1chmoore.

Moore:

Posted: Mar 28 2014 at 7:15am

Updated: 5:56 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2014 | Posted: 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2014

School board approves five-year forecast

By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

    MIDDLETOWN — It’s hard enough predicting tomorrow’s weather, said Kelley Thorpe, treasurer of the Middletown City Schools District.

Imagine predicting it for May 21, 2018.

    That’s what school treasurers face around the state when they produce their district’s five-year financial forecast, she said. On Tuesday night, the board unanimously approved the financial form, but not before the Rev. Greg Tyus, board vice-president, asked Kelley to clarify a few points.

    Tyus was upset by how news reports characterized the forecast after it was presented at an earlier school board meeting. Thorpe explained the district should end this fiscal year with a cash balance of more than $2 million. That number is expected to grow to $2.7 million in 2015 and $2.4 million in 2016.

     But the next two years, because of sharply higher employees’ retirement and health insurance and lower property values throughout Butler County, Thorpe is predicting the district will have a cash balance of negative $3.5 million by fiscal year 2018.

    The property valuation for the school district was $975 million in 2008, and is expected to drop to $711 million this year, she said. Thorpe said general property tax revenue used to be the fastest growing assessed tax valuation. However, in recent years, she said, this source of revenue has been decreasing steadily due to changes in property valuation in the city. Thorpe said property values will be appraised this year in Butler County, and she sees a recent trend continuing.

    Thorpe said she’s predicting a 2 to 3 percent drop in property values in Butler County and a 12 to 15 percent increase in benefits. The district spent $11.7 million on employees’ retirement in 2013, a number that is predicted to climb to $14.6 million by 2018 because of changes in the State Teacher’s Retirement System (STRS).

    Meanwhile, she said, the revenue will be fairly stagnant because it’s based on “what we know right now,” she said.

    Thorpe said the first year of the forecast will be more accurate than the fifth year.

    She said that’s a typical five-year plan for school districts, and added that 98 percent or 99 percent of the districts in the state have negative forecasts. She said operating in the red is “not that alarming” in school finances.

    Tyus wanted the Middletown community to know school board members understand how a district’s finances work and they wouldn’t sit around and “watch us go into the hole.”

She said one of the “unknown majors” is what impact the Affordable Care Act will have on the district.

    Also, she said, if for some reason, the district’s bond issue fails, and a new middle school isn’t built, the district would have to budget $1 million to replace the roof.

    This fiscal year, she said, more students left Middletown to attend charter/community schools than originally thought. This caused an increase in tuition payments of about $1 million, and those payments are predicted to increase from $23.8 million this year to $25.2 million by 2018.       Superintendent Sam Ison has said that 1,500 students who live in the Middletown district attend schools other than Middletown City for various reasons, which costs the district $8.7 million to its general fund.

 

chmoore1 wrote: Acclaro: Ok. I'm in my 70's. Been retired for some years. Nothing in there about my income. Just said that I saved $500 year on property taxes. Nothing about a "cap". You can count on my vote for the next school levy. Probably not (almost certainly) on the city. I actually agree with you on that. Horrible situation here in the city. Still don't see why you think that being retired negates my opinion. You need to work on that. I do agree with you also on no time to bloviate....I need to get my earth moving equipment in running order. Let me know which tree you'll be chained to---I'll leave that one til last. Trying to be helpful in my old age.   Your buddy,just 1chmoore. See you at the polls!

ch:
"You can count on my vote for the next school levy".

Fascinating comment ch.

For the record, and for my understanding, if I may ask, why did you vote yes on the bond levy? Were you satisfied with the academic/indicator performances of the district? Do you just simply support everything Andrew and the board tells you? Are you happy with the school ranking as to graduation rates or school state rankings? How about performance test results? Happy with that? Are you content to know that your property value, despite new schools having been built years ago, have not increased but rather are steadily decreasing? Are you content in knowing that families are enrolling their kids in systems outside the district giving a no-confidence type of message? What, pray tell, makes a person cast a vote of support for this district when it appears there is nothing but trouble in every category of consideration? WHAT BENEFIT ARE YOU GETTING OUT OF GIVING THEM MORE OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX MONEY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE METHOD OF THINKING FROM THE PRO-LEVY FOLKS. THERE IS NOTHING POSITIVE TO EXTRACT A YES VOTE AS I SEE IT.

An analogy for you.....

New building investing in the Middletown schools is like the people of Cincinnati investing in a new stadium for the Bengals during the Dave Shula/Bruce Coslet era during the 80's. They were the laughing stock of the NFL in those days, a proverbial comedy of errors each Sunday and a perrenial loser year after year, so much so that with the fans who did go, wore brown bags over their heads in shame. I see similarities here. Why reward stagnated mediocrity/failure with new buildings? Have they earned that request?

This is easy to comprehend Vet.

Besides AK, the biggest employer in the city is MUM and the school district. Its driven by public sector employees, unions, that are making no progress in performance.

As you correctly stated, its easy to move up when at the bottom of the barrel. But, neither residents nor employees want anything to do with Middletown. The school system is poor, its quite obvious, and money is wasted.

What irks me is the dishonesty of the campaign. That will not be forgotten, nor will it not be reported.

At the end of the day, over 55% of those voting YES, didn't even own property, hence, will see no pain in taxation. The district rounded up multiple partners that outsource services, to "sponsor" dances, and get parents together, forming YES blocks. Many MUM students voted, paying nothing for taxes.

The city wants payroll tax to stay in place, from the school district. So they agree to round up YES votes. The senior citizens got their debt absorbed by city council deals, that traded unloading debt for seniors, for votes for city in future campaigns, coming next year, and the school district. As the reverend stated about it being a marathon, these campaign built on misinformation about cost, acceleration of payment, and state match funds "going away", was running in the background for years.

It will only serve to move more residents out, including businesses, as enrollment declines, tax valuation worsens, and the cycle of destroying the property owner continues in Middletown. Frankly, wo in their right mind would own property in Middletown, already on a decline, knowing all these taxes are coming. How soon do you think raises will be coming for the MCSD? About a year. Then, the high operating taxation, as the district goes into the red.

If you work in the district, city hall, or MUM, you don't care. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. The goal is to reduce the population to around 27,000. It will arrive. There won't be docs and attorneys filling existing practices today in Middletown in 10 years, they'll be in Monroe and Lebanon. It will be as shell of a town, built on public sector employees.

Leadership failed decades ago, and what exists today isn't equivalent of entry level. With slight organization, and a month, the school levy would have gone down  by 500 votes. Even with misrepresentations associated with receipt of $40 Mm, the levy failed by .5%, and some questionable tactics that will be reviewed.

Interest rates are still low, a great time to move. Or, appeaql that property tax bill by March end of 2015.     

There is consequence for distortion.     

"The district has not had an increase in operating tax levy since 2005."

WAAAY BACK IN 2005 HEY.

WELL THEN, BY ALL MEANS, IT IS TIME FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SCHOOL SUPPORTERS TO START THE CAMPAIGN FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS. LET'S CONTINUE TO TAX THE HELL OUT OF THE VERY PEOPLE WHO CAN ILL AFFORD MORE TAXES.


"The remaining decline in property values coincides with a nationwide recession"

NOT TO MENTION WHAT THE CITY LEADERS AND THE POOR REPUTATION OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE DONE TO THE DEMAND FOR PROPERTY IN MIDDLETOWN. NEITHER ENTITY HAS EXACTLY HELPED STRENTHEN THE VALUE ON PROPERTY HERE. NO ONE WANTS TO LOCATE TO MIDDLETOWN NO MATTER HOW MANY NEW SCHOOLS YOU BUILD MS. ANDREW. "NEW" ISN'T THE ANSWER TO UPGRADING PROPERTY VALUES. QUALITY WITHIN, WHETHER NEW OR OLD, IS AN ANSWER THAT WILL START THE ATTRACTION.

"The district asked the voters to fund new buildings because the existing buildings are not adequate for the education needed to compete in a global economy"

TELL THAT TO THE OLDER COLLEGE INSTITUTIONS THAT DO UPSCALE EDUCATION IN VERY OLD BUILDINGS. I LOOK FOR DUKE, HARVARD AND YALE TO TEAR DOWN THEIR OLD BUILDINGS ANYDAY AND BUILD ALL NEW TO IMPROVE THEIR LEVEL OF EDUCATION BASES ON THIS OBSERVATION.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS STATEMENT IS THAT, BE IT NEW OR OLD, THE EDUCATION PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS PERCEIVED AS NOT ADEQUATE TO "COMPETE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY". CAN'T EVEN COMPETE ENTERING THE FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OPINIONS (REFERENCE THE REMEDIAL PROGRAMS CONDUCTED BY COLLEGES FOR FRESHMAN STUDENTS FRESH FROM HIGH SCHOOL), MUCH LESS FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD ENTERING THE WORKING WORLD. NEW SCHOOLS AREN'T THE ANSWER FOR PREPARATION FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, IT IS WHAT IS TAUGHT IN THOSE NEW (OR OLD) SCHOOLS THAT MAKE OR BREAK THE READINESS OF COMPETITION IN TH GLOBAL ECONOMY. YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO SELL THE "NEW SCHOOL CONCEPT AS THE ANSWER" ROUTINE. DOESN'T WORK FOR SOME OF US.

"New/renovated buildings are not a reward for past performance or a guarantee of future performance."

AHH, THE OLD "DISCLAIMER" TO COVER CONTINUAL PERFORMANCE ISSUES AND THE "WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO THOSE WHO ARE FOOTING THE BILL FOR OUR NICE NEW SCHOOLS IF THEY DON'T PRODUCE" ROUTINE. THEN WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY IF THE OUTCOME IS NOT SOMEWHAT ASSURED OF SUCCESS? BASED ON YOUR STATEMENT, NEW BUILDINGS ARE A CRAP SHOOT AS TO WHAT WE MAY SEE DOWN THE ROAD.

"The campaign for the levy did not make such a claim; it is only one that the no voters throw up as a red herring to strike down".


"The campaign for the levy did not make such a claim
MIGHT BE TRUE FOR NOW, BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU HAVE TO SHOW SOME PROGRESS AND TAKE OFF THE TRAINING WHEELS ON THE BICYCLE MS. ANDREW. YA CAN'T RIDE THE "WE NEED YOUR HELP" TRAIN FOREVER WHILE CONTINUING TO SHOW US NOTHING IN RETURN.


YEP, WE THROW UP "RED HERRINGS"


WHILE YOUR SIDE OF THE FENCE THROWS UP THE OLD PASSIFICATION AND APPEASEMENT PROGRAM INUNDATED WITH EXCUSES, EMPTY PROMISES, THE PROVERBIAL "WE ARE HOPING THE NEXT TIME WILL BE BETTER" AS THE EXCUSE TRAIN KEEPS ON A ROLLIN" WITH AN ENDLESS LIST OF REASONS WHY YOU FAILED TO ACHIEVE THIS TIME GIMMICKS. GETTING OLD AFTER THREE DECADES, REALLY IS. WE KEEP THROWING MONEY AT YOU AS YOU REQUEST AND KEEP GETTING THE BLACK EYE EVERY TIME AS TO OUTCOME. WHY? ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME TO SEE SOME REAL IMPROVEMENT WITH THIS DISTRICT? THE FAILURE TRAIN CAN'T RUN FOREVER.

The MCSD levy, if it passed, did so with the slimmest of margins. It also did not pass based upon citizens vote of confidence, rather, its longstanding, older residents that wanted to remain locked in the past, and hang on to memories of Jerry Lucas making jump shots, Archie Aldridge power dunking, and Adolph Rupp coming for a visit to recruit.

If the city members didn't have all those Section 8 voters going to the polls, living in apartments, it wouldn't have been within 10 points. I stopped at Subway on Roosevelt a few days before the election and saw a sandwich maker catering to three or four Middie basketball players. She had on a pro levy shirt that she said was being handed out by the high school. I asked her why she supported the levy, and knew what the cowsts to be. Without blinking an eye, she said, "its free, the state is paying it all, and damn it, we deserve a new school."

After grabbing my salad, and walking away, I looked her in the eye and asked her if she had an Obama phone. She said, 'yes', and with the Obama contribution, she got an upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy.

Between boosters, and others picking up the tab, there isn't any wonder why the levy passed. Its entitlement, and aged former athletes clinging to the past, still trying to turn the clock back fifty years.

The passage had nothing to do with education, a phsyical need, or cost reduction. It was trying to avoid the clock running out on a dead town, and those in poverty giving a boost to get a new building, because someone else paid the bill.

I love the Middies, but believe in aging gracefully, without Botox, and lingering in the past. Shame on the bossters.