There is enough revenue in the Sycamore budget from all previous operating levy issues passed by voters over the years to avoid future levies, indefinitely.
There will not be another levy request on my watch. See SycamoreTaxpayer.com blog to read the graphs and see the numbers. Sycamore's revenue has increased 11.6% from 2005 to 2009, bringing the total revenue up to approximately $4.5 million. Enrollment is down 300 students in the last five years. Expenditures increased 16.5% from 2005 to 2009. Current average teacher pay is $73,471 for a 167 day contract (minus 18 sick and personal days). Fully 85 to 89% of expenditures go to labor costs. It is time to stop the extortion and manipulation of taxpayers by unions! Visit website: EducateOhio.org. My priority will be to make decisions in the best interest of the children, not the unions. The practice of giving bonuses to our 26 administrators (high number/pupil) in the way of "pick up" of their retirement contributions must stop. We cannot keep feeding the monster of public education more money at taxpayer expense. The bubble has burst. Our economic woes canl turn around but only from the 'bottom up'. Individuals and local spending of "other people's money" is over.
Let's get back to the basics and face reality squarely before it is too late. I am a true fiscal conserative who believes in limited government and free markets.
Let's give parents choice and embrace competition. Schools are not parents.
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