Smart vote would be for school levies

2/9/2008

With another voting day coming in March, some area schools will again be on the ballot. With the defeat of many levies in November, it's definitely a bleak time.

Area schools have had to resort to dismissing many of their good staff, ending programs that have been proven to be beneficial to students, and scratching their heads at what is next if their March levy fails as well.

There are many public education institutions throughout the state of Ohio in trouble because of the current funding system and having to always go back to property owners for passage of levies.

Tax-reform bills such as House Bill 66 create new obstacles and funding issues for districts. My fear is that some districts may not be able to make it if this continues.

A legislative leader of my area informed me that education has been getting more money to help the districts, but it's just not enough.

You can't take millions of dollars from districts with a bill like House Bill 66 and expect the allotments to make up for that. Many districts are in the red or will be if their levies continue to fail.

It's not about poor fiscal management; you can't manage money that just isn't there.

People who are unhappy with the way we are taxed need to put pressure on legislative leaders who were told several years ago to fix Ohio's school funding problem.

Public schools need the support of their communities or they will fall apart.

It's not the schools' fault that Ohio lawmakers haven't developed a solution as of yet, especially since Ohio kids are the future of this state's economy.

Crystal Burnworth

Sylvania

When seven of Ohio's horse racing tracks proposed installing electronic gaming devices on their premises, Gov. Ted Strickland replied that as a moral man, he could never allow additional gambling opportunities for his beloved constituents.

When numerous mom-and-pop establishments around the state proposed installing electronic gaming devices on their premises, Mr. Strickland again replied that as a moral man, he could never allow additional gambling opportunities for his beloved constituents.

When the Ohio Lottery Commission proposed installing and regulating electronic gaming devices in bars and taverns, Mr. Strickland replied that these state-run machines would be a smart way to help offset an otherwise unbalanced budget.

How can businesses in Ohio be expected to create jobs and enjoy a little profit under such moral leadership?

Joshua Z. Singer

Harford Road

I read that President Bush is going to give money to taxpayers. I guess he doesn t care about the homeless or senior citizens on fixed incomes. Why doesn t he give some money to the less fortunate? Most of the people he is giving money to make more in six months than some of us make in a year.

Paul Drain

Bowling Green