Here is a list of ballot issues
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/March_6,_2012_ballot_measures_in_Ohio

The township where I live is proposing a tax levy that will basically replace the lost home values with Franklin County's revaluation efforts this past fall. Definitely voting "no" on that one.

I think the biggest hot button issue in Central Ohio is the Westerville schools levy. The teachers basically refused to negotiate concessions leading up to the levy.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/28/teachers-union-pact-not-done.html

I honestly think that this kills any chance the levy had of passing. While the teachers union gave up half of their raises, they are still taking half, raising the expenses of the district. I think people are fed up and are not going to pay until expenses are under control.

LJ;1100079 wrote:Here is a list of ballot issues
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/March_6,_2012_ballot_measures_in_Ohio

The township where I live is proposing a tax levy that will basically replace the lost home values with Franklin County's revaluation efforts this past fall. Definitely voting "no" on that one.

I think the biggest hot button issue in Central Ohio is the Westerville schools levy. The teachers basically refused to negotiate concessions leading up to the levy.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/28/teachers-union-pact-not-done.html

I honestly think that this kills any chance the levy had of passing. While the teachers union gave up half of their raises, they are still taking half, raising the expenses of the district. I think people are fed up and are not going to pay until expenses are under control.[/QUOTE]

But, But.... it's about the children. :rolleyes:

I like how those who want to vote YES for the Westerville levy has marked their campaign. They have all those "We (heart) Westerville Schools" signs out as if to say those who do not want to pass the levy do not love the schools. I thought the NO people should have had an opposing campagin that states "We (Heart) Westerville Schools too, but we don't want to hand the teachers unions our paychecks".

Little Danny;1100231 wrote:But, But.... it's about the children. :rolleyes:

There is actually a big movement in Westerville that is something like "I support the schools but am against the levy"

LJ;1100079 wrote:I think the biggest hot button issue in Central Ohio is the Westerville schools levy. The teachers basically refused to negotiate concessions leading up to the levy.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/28/teachers-union-pact-not-done.html

Nothing chaps my ass more (as a teacher) than teachers and unions acting as if they are untouchable in tough economic times.

You would have been a lot better off if SB 5 had cleared. You could have told those greedy, lazy-assed public employees that it's "my way or the highway", lol.

stlouiedipalma;1100521 wrote:You would have been a lot better off if SB 5 had cleared. You could have told those greedy, lazy-assed public employees that it's "my way or the highway", lol.

Seeing as how they won't even give up their raises when the district is $23 million in the hole....

Just my two cents' worth, but where was the concern among taxpayers when the CBA was being negotiated? Are there any "angry taxpayers" running for school board in order to have a voice or effect change? Anyone can rail about finances and raises, but until you are prepared to do something about it, it's just hot air.

stlouiedipalma;1100538 wrote:Just my two cents' worth, but where was the concern among taxpayers when the CBA was being negotiated? Are there any "angry taxpayers" running for school board in order to have a voice or effect change? Anyone can rail about finances and raises, but until you are prepared to do something about it, it's just hot air.

A lot of taxpayers do indeed do something about it. They choose to not provide additional funding and they do so through their vote.

stlouiedipalma;1100538 wrote:Just my two cents' worth, but where was the concern among taxpayers when the CBA was being negotiated? Are there any "angry taxpayers" running for school board in order to have a voice or effect change? Anyone can rail about finances and raises, but until you are prepared to do something about it, it's just hot air.

With foreclosures and such that is a non issue. They could have been running a surplus at current rates when contracts were negotiated.
The unwillingness of the teacher's union to negotiate concessions is definitely going to send this levy down in flames, and the kids will be the ones who suffer.
Sad

Con_Alma;1100540 wrote:A lot of taxpayers do indeed do something about it. They choose to not provide additional funding and they do so through their vote.

/con_alma'd

Con_Alma;1100540 wrote:A lot of taxpayers do indeed do something about it. They choose to not provide additional funding and they do so through their vote.

Yeah, I understand that. The problem, however, isn't going to go away by voting "no". The solution can only be achieved through community involvement. If it's enough of an issue to make you talk about it, it shouldn't be much of a push to seek out those who agree with your position. Once that is established, it's a small step to get one or more like-minded citizens to get on the ballot. It doesn't happen overnight, but it's a start. If you don't start, you sure as hell can't finish.

stlouiedipalma;1100562 wrote:Yeah, I understand that. The problem, however, isn't going to go away by voting "no". The solution can only be achieved through community involvement. If it's enough of an issue to make you talk about it, it shouldn't be much of a push to seek out those who agree with your position. Once that is established, it's a small step to get one or more like-minded citizens to get on the ballot. It doesn't happen overnight, but it's a start. If you don't start, you sure as hell can't finish.

I don't know what the Union refusing to negotiate has to do with who is currently sitting on the school board?

stlouiedipalma;1100562 wrote:Yeah, I understand that. The problem, however, isn't going to go away by voting "no". The solution can only be achieved through community involvement. If it's enough of an issue to make you talk about it, it shouldn't be much of a push to seek out those who agree with your position. Once that is established, it's a small step to get one or more like-minded citizens to get on the ballot. It doesn't happen overnight, but it's a start. If you don't start, you sure as hell can't finish.

You can replace any and all board members, but at present you are not going to get a levy passed without the number one expense item being reduced. Not possible.

Con_Alma;1100540 wrote:A lot of taxpayers do indeed do something about it. They choose to not provide additional funding and they do so through their vote.

This is nothing more than taking your ball and going home.

stlouiedipalma;1100562 wrote:Yeah, I understand that. The problem, however, isn't going to go away by voting "no". The solution can only be achieved through community involvement. If it's enough of an issue to make you talk about it, it shouldn't be much of a push to seek out those who agree with your position. Once that is established, it's a small step to get one or more like-minded citizens to get on the ballot. It doesn't happen overnight, but it's a start. If you don't start, you sure as hell can't finish.

This is really the answer. Get involved, run for school board yourself or back someone who shares your views, attend school board meetings and speak your mind, meet with school board members and tell them how you feel.

Do something..more than just voting no.

wkfan;1100678 wrote:This is nothing more than taking your ball and going home.



This is really the answer. Get involved, run for school board yourself or back someone who shares your views, attend school board meetings and speak your mind, meet with school board members and tell them how you feel.

Do something..more than just voting no.

How is that the answer when the School Board is trying to make cuts, and the Union is blocking them?

wkfan;1100678 wrote:This is nothing more than taking your ball and going home.



This is really the answer. Get involved, run for school board yourself or back someone who shares your views, attend school board meetings and speak your mind, meet with school board members and tell them how you feel.

Do something..more than just voting no.

Why can't they do both?

It is ridiculous to argue one should vote yes for a levy they can't afford just because they did not get more involved in the process beforehand.

Little Danny;1100709 wrote:Why can't they do both?

It is ridiculous to argue one should vote yes for a levy they can't afford just because they did not get more involved in the process beforehand.

I never said that he should vote 'yes'.

What I did say was that just voting 'no' is not a way to effect change.

wkfan;1100678 wrote:This is nothing more than taking your ball and going home.



This is really the answer. Get involved, run for school board yourself

Fine. Now I'm on the school board. The fact remains that it will be impossible to generate additional revenue (pass a levy) without cutting the number one expense item in my school system's budget. I can't accomplish that without the help of the other side. Exactly what does my running for the board accomplish other than perhaps giving me more of a right to complain?

wkfan;1100731 wrote:
What I did say was that just voting 'no' is not a way to effect change.

Of course it is. My home in Ohio is in a great district that sometimes got sloppy with the money we entrusted to them. Our no vote sent a message that more often than not, they got, and they made corrections in their path.

LJ;1100689 wrote:How is that the answer when the School Board is trying to make cuts, and the Union is blocking them?

According to the article, the union has not yet said 'no concessions' and has not agreed to them either.

“Yes, we would have liked to have had a contract for ratification by now, but those discussions are not complete,” board President Kevin Hoffman said at the school-board meeting, the last before the election."

"District spokesman Greg Viebranz said there was no time limit on when all unions had to make that move."

While I get that the net effect on the levy voters is the same as a 'no concessions' vote, the jury is still out.

In my mind, the union is shooting themselves in the foot by not coming to an agreement on this issue AND not agreeing to the same concessions that the other unions did.

wkfan;1100747 wrote:According to the article, the union has not yet said 'no concessions' and has not agreed to them either.



While I get that the net effect on the levy voters is the same as a 'no concessions' vote, the jury is still out.

In my mind, the union is shooting themselves in the foot by not coming to an agreement on this issue AND not agreeing to the same concessions that the other unions did.

They will not talk until the next negotiation. That is "no concessions"

queencitybuckeye;1100734 wrote:Fine. Now I'm on the school board. The fact remains that it will be impossible to generate additional revenue (pass a levy) without cutting the number one expense item in my school system's budget. I can't accomplish that without the help of the other side. Exactly what does my running for the board accomplish other than perhaps giving me more of a right to complain?

OK...you are now on the school board. You can craft a compelling proposal to the union that is based in facts and statistics, not emotion. You can participate in civil discussions with their leadership and with the community on what the community desires in terms of quality of education, curriculum offerings, athletics, etc and then quantify the costs of those offerings. you can then tell the community that , if you desire 'X', it costs 'Y' and a rational decision can be made. Reasonable people will understand reasonable arguments.

You can also see how the monies taken in by the district are spent and how and where changes need to be made.

My view has always been that a school district is a three-legged stool. One leg is the community, one leg is the administration (management) and one leg is the employees (classified and certified). No one leg should 'cut' without the others being 'cut' as well...otherwise your stool gets pretty unlevel pretty quickly.

LJ;1100748 wrote:They will not talk until the next negotiation. That is "no concessions"

Atricle said that they will not talk again before the election, not until the next negotiation....

"“Yes, we would have liked to have had a contract for ratification by now, but those discussions are not complete,” board President Kevin Hoffman said at the school-board meeting, the last before the election."

also

"Members of the teachers union agreed on Feb. 14 to a package that included $2.5 million in concessions, but Williams said that package now will be part of negotiations this summer. The union’s contract expires on Aug. 31."

wkfan;1100757 wrote:OK...you are now on the school board. You can craft a compelling proposal to the union that is based in facts and statistics, not emotion.

And if this has already been done?

wkfan;1100765 wrote:Atricle said that

also

And that package of "concessions" only cuts half of their raises, still leaving the district on the hook for $1.4 million in raises.

I'm not sure of the point of your first quote?