Lakota, Mason schools would lose most under Kasich plan

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COLUMBUS – Mason City and Lakota Local schools stand to lose the most money in the state under a new funding proposal GOP lawmakers unveiled Tuesday.

Statewide, 93 districts would lose money from the state over the next two school years.

Mason City, however, would lose the most: $3.6 million over the two-year period. Lakota Local would lose $3.1 million, the second-highest amount in the state.

The cuts are a couple million dollars slimmer than those proposed initially by Gov. John Kasich. And many fewer districts statewide are losing money: The governor's plan would have trimmed the budgets of about half of the state's 610 districts.

Still, parents and school officials howled at the notion of taking away money from so many schools – and a cut of any size is a cut too large, they continue to say.

House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled their proposal as part of a revision to the state's two-year budget. In his original pitch, Kasich called on lawmakers to focus money from the state on districts most in need while sending less to those with a "higher capacity" to raise funds on their own by raising property taxes.

The House version would offer more overall money to schools – an extra $179 million compared with Kasich's plan. But House Republicans agreed with Kasich that the state should start phasing out money districts have received for years as a reimbursement for the discontinued "tangible personal property tax," or TPP.

Under the House revision, the cut to Mason over two years would amount to a 9.5 percent cut in the money it receives from the state annually and a 3.7 percent cut in the district's total revenue, including property taxes.

Lakota's cut would represent a 6.5 percent cut in state money over two years. That translates to a 2 percent decline in the total revenue the district receives, including property taxes.

Overall, among the 49 districts in Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont counties:

Ten would see a funding cut over the two-year budget period, including Mason; Princeton and Mariemont city schools; Lakota; Southwest; Three Rivers; Forest Hills and Kings local schools; New Richmond Exempted Village Schools; and Sycamore Community Schools.

Cincinnati Public Schools stands to gain the most in the region – a $17.2 million increase over the two-year period.

After Mason and Lakota, the next-largest cuts are to Princeton, $1.7 million, and New Richmond, $1 million.

House Republicans touted that no district will see a decrease in the main category of money it receives from the state. In that category, 494 of Ohio's 610 districts will see an increase, they said.

School officials, however, say it's the bottom line that counts.

A particular source of contention is the cut in TPP money. State officials say it was always meant to be a temporary reimbursement when they phased out the tax, which businesses paid on inventory.

"Not so," school officials say.

"It was never supposed to go away," said Tracey Carson, Mason City Schools spokeswoman. "That was a promise that the Legislature made, and folks who were around at that time remember that. We certainly remember that promise, and we want to hold legislators to it."

State Rep. Ryan Smith, R-Bidwell, pointed to the extra money schools are getting overall.

"What we decided to do was ... try to cushion the blow on TPP districts that way," said Smith, who oversaw the budget revision. "We got it down to 15 percent" of districts losing money.

The House's proposal is far from the final word. After the budget passes the House – expected next week – the Senate will put its mark on the spending plan. Then, the two chambers will meet to create a final version, which must receive Kasich's signature by June 30.

Local school districts, however, are banding together now to fight for TPP funding.

Mason City is asking its residents to send postcards and letters to legislators; Sycamore School Board vice president John Mercurio wrote a column denouncing the TPP cuts; and Princeton City is sending a group to Columbus on Thursday to lobby against the change.

"The consequences of losing this are very significant," Carson said. "And that's one of the reasons why TPP is one of those swords that we're willing to die on. This is a big deal for us."