July 28, 2011
School board approves five levy options
WEA gives up $1.7M in salaries, benefits By JENNIFER NESBITT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Westerville Education Association will give up $1.7 million in salaries and benefits to help ease the nearly $3-million budget deficit the Westerville City School District faces at the end of this fiscal year. The association, which represents the district’s 1,030 teachers and licensed personnel, voted last week on the concession package, said WEA president Chris Williams. “All of the employee labor groups are looking at what they can do,” Williams said. He said opinions among members varied widely about whether this was the right solution, or whether the union should be doing more or less to help with the budget deficit. Ultimately, Williams said, employees wanted to help save jobs from potential cuts. “That was, for some people, a huge driver,” he said. Though the WEA has agreed to freeze salaries in the past, this marks the first time the union has chosen to give money back, Williams said. The union decided not to disclose precisely where the money is coming from — cuts to costof-living increases, step increases or benefits, Williams said. He said he hopes the concessions show the community that the school district is willing to do all it can to keep costs low while seeking a new levy. The 7.9-mill property-tax levy being discussed by the district would cost taxpayers an addiSee WEA, page A2
BOE’s final choice expected in August By JENNIFER NESBITT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Eric George/ThisWeek
As a duck takes to water
Geoff Gear, head coach for the Westerville Lakes club swimming team, dons a duck costume while cheering on his swimmers in the Country Club swimming championships July 19 at the New Albany Country Club. The Lakes finished third out of 12 teams. See Sports, page C2.
Westerville voters likely will see a school levy on the November ballot, but it remains to be seen what that tax will look like. The Westerville Board of Education approved five levy options at its July 25 meeting. Those options will be sent to the Franklin and Delaware county auditors for certification later this week. The board then will vote, likely at its Aug. 8 meeting, to select a levy to be sent to the county boards of elections for the Nov. 8 ballot. The board passed resolutions to have a 1-percent earned-income tax and a 7.9-mill property tax levy certified by the county auditors. The 7.9-mill property tax would cost voters an additional $242 annually per $100,000 of assessed property value. The earned-income tax would apply to anyone living within the Westerville City School District but would not be applied to Social Security, pension or investment income. The remaining three levy options approved for certification by the board would take advantage of a type of levy recently approved by the state. They would combine an income tax with a property tax into one issue on the ballot. Those options included: • A 0.5-percent earned-income tax and a $10-million property-tax levy, which would be about 3.9 mills. • A 0.75-percent earned-income tax and a $7.3million property tax, which would be about 2.9 mills. • A 0.75-percent earned-income tax and $5-million property tax, which would be about 1.9 mills. All of the options aim to close a nearly $3-million See LEVY OPTIONS, page A2
State budget cuts for Westerville aren’t as bad as expected By JENNIFER NESBITT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Westerville officials knew the city would see cuts in funding from the state when a new budget was passed by Ohio legislators this year, but the cuts were not nearly as bad as expected.
During the city’s budgeting process last fall, staff and council members braced themselves for significant cuts to the amount of money the city receives through the state’s Local Government Fund. “The staff had planned appropriately from the September budget. When they planned the budget, they planned for the
drop-off,” city finance director Lee Ann Shortland said. “We try to err on the conservative side. We knew Local Government Funds would be decreasing.” The city anticipated a decrease of about $350,000 in the Local Government Fund for 2011, Shortland said, but that number actually will be closer to $10,000.
“We’re doing a little better than we expected, which is normal for Westerville, but it is going to be lower than it has been in the past,” Shortland said. The city receives about $1.7 million from the Local Government Fund each year. The money goes to the Westerville’s general fund to pay for things such as
public safety, public works and other basic government functions The city does forecast losing another 25 percent of its Local Government Fund money in 2012, she said. One area the city knows will be hurt See BUDGET CUTS, page A2
Griffith to make $133,000 plus benefits as district treasurer By JENNIFER NESBITT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Bart Griffith will serve as the new financial head of the Westerville City School District. The Westerville Board of Education approved a three-year contract July 25 with Griffith, who currently serves as treasurer of the Hudson City School District. The contract allows for a $133,000 annual salary. That tops the salary approved for former treasurer Scott Gooding in December, which was $109,000 per year. Griffith’s contract also allows for a $100-per-month personal communication allowance, a $400-per-month car allowance and up to $7,500 in reimburse-
ments for any costs associated with Griffith relocating to Westerville. Griffith will be eligible for raises during Bart Griffith the three years through an agreement with the board, the contract said. Griffith has served as the treasurer of the Hudson City School District since 2007. He also served as treasurer of the Mansfield City School District from 2003 through 2006, of the Lexington Local School District from 1994 to 1998 and of the Lakewood Local School District from 1993 to 1994. Before that, he held several
posts in the private sector. Griffith earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in education and school finance, and a master’s in business administration from Ashland University. “He brings a wealth of experience, experience in city districts like ours,” said board member Kevin Hoffman, who helped lead the hiring process. “As we went through the interview process, we could see that this is a gentleman who appreciates a challenge and values education.” The board went through a months-long process in finding a replacement for Gooding, who announced his resignation in
Forms in uniform
Students from the Xcel Martial Arts perform during Fourth Friday in Uptown Westerville on July 22. A thunderstorm swept through the area, closing many of the booths. After the storm passed, those who stayed were treated to the martial-arts demonstration.
See GRIFFITH, page A2
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By Chris Parker/ThisWeek
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