Know the Facts about our new "Taj Mahal" project

By Colleen "Colleen Greissinger" Greissinger

Sycamore taxpayers are not aware that the Bond Issue passed last year by voters for rebuilding Mapledale Elementary did not include the proposed new district administrative office building and 60 car parking lot in "Residential" zoned property in Blue Ash. Operating levy funds (cash reserves) are being used to build this larger than necessary $2.1 million Taj Mahal school office.

The new Sycamore Administration District Office Building was not part of the 2010 bond issue levy approved by voters to build a new Mapledale Elementary School. The funding for the new $2.1 million District Office Building will come from the Sycamore School District cash reserve funds originally voter approved as operating levies. The 12,000 square foot building and 60 car 15,000 square foot parking lot is for approximately 29 employees. New construction is generally two to three times more expensive than buying and remodeling an existing building. There are several appropriate, handsome 12,000 to 14,000 square foot buildings for sale in Blue Ash that are located in areas zoned to permit office buildings.

Due to state budget cuts, Sycamore School District is short $2 million and $4.8 million respectively over the next two years. The five year forecast plan calls for deficit spending of $5.7 million, $5.3 million, and $6 million over the following three years thereafter. To keep expenditures down for 2011-12, teacher salaries were froze and 24 teaching positions eliminated. In 2012, Sycamore School Board will be coming to the voters asking for a $2.5 million annual operating tax levy. When going to the voting booth next year please remember the $2.1 million of taxpayer money now being used for a new "Taj Mahal" of a district office building. How can we be assured that any future levy that may get approved by voters will not be used for any purpose but the promised education operating costs?