July 7, 2011
Ad hoc committee
Tax changes, higher fees may be needed By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers An income tax increase, reducing current tax credits, raising service fees and possible personnel cuts, are among suggestions that may be part of a plan devised by an ad hoc committee to deal with Reynoldsburg’s financial situation. The committee has been meeting once a week since June 7. It is expected to make recommendations to Reynoldsburg City Council on July 11.
Along with city attorney Jed Hood, council president Bill Hills and city auditor Richard Harris, the group has been mulling over how the city can cover the projected $1.7 million it could lose in the next four years, based on calculations of the state budget. At its June 29 meeting, the main discussion focused on the possibility of an income tax increase and how the money generated would be used for city operations or capital improvements. The group agreed that other areas to
be considered in its recommendations are the city’s service fees and a possible reduction in the 100-percent tax credit residents who work and pay taxes outside Reynoldsburg currently receive. Harris said although the move to put a tax increase on the ballot would ultimately be up to city council, the committee can certainly make that suggestion. “You have seen throughout central Ohio in the last couple of years there’s been a number of tax increases that
have been passed,” Harris said. “Very few have had stipulations on them, but you can have stipulations on them.” Ad hoc committee chairman Brad Sprague said one reason he raised the question was because the group had earlier talked about labor negotiations “where it gets to the point where there’s an offer on the table and you go to a mediator and an arbitrator, and they look at the money that’s available and they make a decision and basically impose it upon the city.
“I assume their recommendations are based upon the amount of money that’s available, in their opinion, and if the voters have stipulated that a certain percentage of income tax increase is only available for capital improvements, that money would be off the table,” he said. Harris agreed that was a valid point. “I think if there was going to be a tax increase, that’s one of the decisions See AD HOC COMMITTEE, page A2
District receives $561,750 Race to the Top grant By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers The Reynoldsburg school district will receive a $561,750 grant from the Ohio Department of Education’s Race to the Top initiative. The district was among 45 schools statewide that were notified June 29 that they would share $16.2 million in funding that originated from the U.S. Department of Education. The disbursements were based on the districts’involvement in six different model programs. Reynoldsburg was awarded the grant for participation in an early college program offered to high school students. The other five programs are: advancement via individual determination (AVID); science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); the new technology network (New Tech); the Asia Society; and the Other Proven Models program. Money awarded to the schools in the Early College High School program will be dispersed over three years, beginning with the 2011-12 school year. This means Reynoldsburg will receive $187,250 per year for the next three years to further develop the four interest-based academies that will be launched this fall, district spokesperson Tricia Moore said. Those four are: business, education, leadership and law (BELL Academy); arts, communication and design (Encore Academy); environmental science, technology, engineering and math (eSTEM Academy); and health sciences and human services (HS 2 Academy). Moore said part of the grant money is to be used to work with EdWorks, a subsidiary of the KnowledgeWorks Foundation, to continue the planning and development process for the four academies. EdWorks works with public schools throughout the United States, offering the strategies, support and technical assistance to boost student achievement and opportunity. The grant money is particularly welcome because the district anticipates expenditure cuts of $3.7 million over the next two fiscal years — $2.4 million in FY2012 and another $1.3 million in FY2013, Moore said. “We’re very excited. Reynoldsburg has a pretty strong story to tell in terms of college and career readiness and the opportunities we’re bringing to our kids,” she said. “This grant will help us further those opportunities. This grant money helps ensure that we’re able to dedicate the comSee GRANT, page A2
Photos by Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Fourth of July celebration (Above) World War II veteran Bob Hickman waves to family and friends from the Honor Flight float during the Reynoldsburg Independence Day parade July 2. Hickman was a tailgunner with the Army Air Corps. (Left) Neeko, an 8-month-old poodle belonging to Carolyn Hubbard, shows off his patriotic colors while waiting for the start of the parade. Visit ThisWeekNews.com for a slideshow of Fourth of July photos from central Ohio communities.
Mexican restaurant adds Reynoldsburg location By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers Las Margaritas Restaurante Mexicano & Cantina opened its sixth outlet May 31 in what was a City Books store at 6150 E. Main St. Company representative Chris Day said plans include a seventh restaurant in Lincoln Village on the West Side of Columbus in July and possible expansion into Lancaster. Day said the first Las Margaritas opened in Dublin in 2001. Besides its specialty — serving affordable authentic Mexican food and margaritas — the restaurant chain promotes a family atmosphere where kids can also have fun, Day said. Store manager Katie Mutchler, who has been with the company for five years, said the Reynoldsburg restaurant offers a full bar and hosts a “happy hour”
from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with $1 off bottled beer and half-price appetizers. Reynoldsburg development director Lucas Haire said Las Margaritas expands the diverse dining options offered in the area. “It’s great addition to the area … we just keep expanding and offering new choices to our residents,” Haire said. The complex where Las Margaritas is located was built four years ago and has seen a few businesses come and go since. City Books closed its doors in early July 2010, and before that, the space was occupied by a Starbucks that closed in 2008. Since Las Margaritas is a growing chain in central Ohio, Haire said it is likely the restaurant will do well in that location. Mutchler, who recently graduated from Capital University with a degree in business marketing and a minor in Spanish, said the company chose the new
location in Reynoldsburg because of the high visibility and traffic flow along East Main Street. Prices range from single a la carte dishes starting at $1.99 to lunch and dinner specialties ranging from about $3.99 up to $14.99, she said. One of the house specialties is the “Cazuelada” dish, which features a combination of steak, chicken and chorizo sausage sautéed with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and topped with melted cheese, including Spanish rice and charro beans, Mutchler said. The restaurant has a front patio that can seat approximately three dozen customers and an interior dining room with space for at least 150, including the bar area, she said. Day said the restaurant also offers drop-off catering services for customers holding parties or special events. dowen@thisweeknews.com www.ThisWeekNews.com
Gibson named new band director at Reynoldsburg High School By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers Jason Gibson will be Reynoldsburg High School’s new band director, effective Aug. 1. He succeeds Betsy Fox, who resigned to take on a new teaching position with the district’s Encore Academy at the Summit Road high school campus this fall.
Gibson was recommended by SuGibson was raised perintendent Steve Dackin and approved in Ashville and has by the board of education during its June lived in central Ohio 21 meeting. all of his life. He reHis base salary will be $48,741, not ceived a bachelor’s including benefits. degree in music eduGibson, 32, has been the music incation from Capital structor at Bishop Ready High School Jason Gibson University in 2001. since 2006. Before that, he was a subHe said the move stitute teacher for a year in the Colum- to Reynoldsburg is a good fit since he bus City Schools district. and his wife, Aubrey, a third-grade
teacher at Taylor Road Elementary School, and their two children, have lived in the city for the past six years. “We live here and we’re involved in the community, so this was a good opportunity to be in a program in the community,” he said. He said he loves music because it’s a great form of expression. “There’s a lot in music that teaches kids more than just music,” he said. “I
mean, music is great, but band programs teach other things like discipline, perseverance and difficulties that you have to overcome. And then there’s the emotion that comes out of music — you can express any emotion in music.” Gibson plays the saxophone but enjoys all genres of music, including jazz, classical and rock. See BAND DIRECTOR, page A2