State-Journal.com - Tax faced uphill battle

The Franklin County Public School Board would've had problems passing the 5 cent real estate property tax increase - rescinded Monday - had it gone to a vote.

Records show that voters struck down two of three proposals in districts similar to Franklin County in recent years. Another, like Franklin County's, was rescinded and one, though successful, prompted a lawsuit.

FCPS Superintendent Harrie Buecker cited public opposition, current economic trends and the added costs associated with a special election and possible litigation to get two sets of bills printed as her reasons for asking the board to drop the tax proposal. It did 5-0.

Members of the Franklin County Tax Referendum Committee indicated they had a petition with more
than the 2,413 signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot for a special election.

"At this point the community has sent us a message loud and clear that they are opposed to this levy," Buecker said at Monday's board meeting.

"We hear about it every day (through) phone calls, letters, folks coming up to talk to us about it."
Franklin County Clerk Guy Zeigler previously told The State Journal a special election would cost the district between $50,000 and $60,000.

FCPS Communications Coordinator Wayne Dominick indicated the sheriff's office would not print two sets of bills - one when normal tax rates are set and one after the special election.

The sheriff's office indicated an additional printing could have cost the district an additional $60,000, according to Dominick.

The dispute over the tax bills could have led to possible litigation between the sheriffs office and the district, according to the agenda for the meeting.

Similar property tax increase proposals were in Campbell County, Clark County and Fort Thomas Public School districts - roughly the size of Franklin County's.

Only Fort Thomas passed it.

In 2005, the Campbell County School Board proposed a 1.2-cent increase to build a new elementary school and increase teacher salaries. The proposal, to raise $382,000 per year, was struck down by a 63 percent "no" vote.

Campbell County Superintendent Anthony Strong said he was surprised when a petition was turned in to fight the proposal.

"I think the board and I were a little bit nave," Strong said. "I don't think we thought anybody in the community would object to it."

Buecker also expressed surprise at the amount of opposition to the increase.

"I guess in my mind I have a tunnel vision to do what's best for the students," she said. "I thought by explaining to the community way out in front what our problems were(they) would get behind us."

When the Campbell County tax failed, the school was forced to sell an aging elementary school to pay for new ones, which left the district with little money for salary increases and future expenses, Strong said.

Fort Thomas residents passed an 11 percent increase in 2003, which raised $1.5 million annually. The hike, which increased teacher salaries and covered a budget shortfall, was approved by 53 percent of voters in a special election.

The increase cost Fort Thomas residents an additional $77 per year on a $100,000 home.

Fort Thomas School Board Chairwoman Karen Allen said the tax passed because of the expansive grassroots initiative, "Stand Up For Fort Thomas."

The campaign featured a Web site, newspaper articles, door-to-door soliciting and members promoting the initiative in PTO and booster meetings.

"We tried to get the information out as to what our financial situation was to let the community know what was going on," Allen said. "We communicated effectively that we weren't trying to support a bunch of fluff and extras."

In 2003, Clark County attempted to raise property tax rates 5 cents to pay for kindergarten at three schools, raise teacher salaries and update technology.

The increase would have provided $900,000 per year for the district, but it was voted down by a nearly 66 percent margin in a special election.

Former Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Robin Fankhauser considered a nickel increase in 2002, but decided against the proposal after gauging public support.

In other cases, the fight to raise property taxes turned ugly. In Oldham County in 2003, a petition was thrown out by the county clerk because of a technicality, even though it had nearly double the necessary signatures.

The 10.7-cent proposed hike went through, but a lawsuit was later filed accusing the school board of not giving residents a chance to recall the increase.