Brecksville-Broadview Heights Board of Education Puts Renewal Levy on August Ballot, Approves Staff Reductions

The Brecksville-Broadview Heights Board of Education took the final step to put a 6.9-mill renewal levy on the August ballot Tuesday night. 

The levy, which would create no new taxes for residents, would be changed to a continuing levy if passed, which means that it would not reappear on the ballot for renewal in the future. It would, instead, continue to generate revenue for the district without the voters needing to reapprove it.

Before the board approved sending the information for the levy to the Board of Elections in time to put it on the August ballot, Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Karen Obratil addressed the concern that changing the levy from a renewal to a continuing one would take away the voters’ voices when it comes to district spending. Obratil showed that the district has at least one renewal levy on the ballot every year but one from 2011 through 2019, giving residents the chance to vote down levies on a regular basis even if one renewal is taken away. The board passed the resolution to put the levy on the ballot.

That vote came in the middle of a financially fueled meeting. While some time was taken to highlight student achievements and take care of more routine business, the majority of Tuesday’s meeting focused on the budget. 

Obratil and Superintendent Scot Prebles gave a presentation on the impact of the proposed state budget cuts on the district. The district is performing well academically, Prebles said, as was evidenced by the number of students highlighted earlier in the evening for their achievements in speech and debate, mathematics, chemistry and art. 

“We have a tremendous amount to lose,” Prebles said. 

The presentation showed the board and the audience the differences in the district’s current financial forecast and how that could change based on reductions within the district and the proposed changes in state funding. The Brecksville-Broadview Heights district would lose about $2.9 million in the 2011-2012 school year under the proposed state budget, Obratil said. That loss would be due to a combination of factors: a reduction in the state foundation funding to schools, a loss of the federal stimulus funds, and decreased reimbursements to districts for things like the tangible personal property tax and public utilities, she added.

Relatively little mention was made throughout the evening of the , although the budget presentation did show how the additional funds would help the district decrease a projected deficit in 2015. 

Prebles ended the presentation with an overview of the tools districts have to address financial shortfalls, including taking steps to be more efficient, negotiating measures to lower costs and increasing the money coming into the district through levies. He also encouraged the audience to reach out to legislative representatives. 

The board discussed the presentation, noting areas of concern. Member David Tryon said that more difficult decisions could be on the way if the budget is passed as proposed. 

And one of those decisions came up later in the meeting, as the board passed a resolution approving a reduction in force for the upcoming school year. According to information from the district, 11 certified employees, like teachers, and 11 classified employees will see a reduction. Some of those employees will have their hours reduced, and some will be let go. Those that qualify are placed on a recall list.

Despite the somber tone of much of the meeting, there was some bright news for the financial department and Obratil, who recently won two awards for excellence in financial reporting. The awards were from the Government Finance Officers Association and the Association of School Business Officials International.

Editor’s note, added July 23, 2011: For more election news, check our .