SIDNEY — The failure of a permanent improvement levy on the March 15 ballot has left the Sidney City Schools District in the same position it was in before — aging buildings that need upkeep and a desire to stop transferring funds from the general fun to the permanent improvement fun to accomplish the upkeep.
“The levy went down to defeat last Tuesday,” said Superintendent John Scheu during Monday night’s board of education meeting. “The next time it can be put on the ballot will be Aug. 2, 2016, and then at the general November election.
“If we put it on the August ballot, there’s a tight time frame when things have to be done,” said Scheu. “At the April 4 meeting, we would have to approve a resolution of necessity. At the April 18 meeting we would have to approve a final resolution to proceed.
“Despite being defeated, the need doesn’t go away,” he continued. “We have aging facilities. We have no PI fund and we’re draining our general fund.”
The district had asked voters for their approval on a 3-mill 5-year permanent improvement levy on the March ballot. It was defeated by more than 1,100 votes — 3,728 against the levy and 2,620 for the levy. Results of the election are still unofficial until the votes are certified by the Shelby County Board of Elections on March 28.
Treasurer Mike Watkins said the district did have a PI levy and it was allowed to expire in 2009. The levy was for .8-mills. The board also reduced the millage being collected for the repayment of the Sidney Middle school Bond levy by 1.2 mills in 2015.
A PI levy, said Watkins, can only be used for facility repairs and expenditures such as the purchase of new buses. A PI levy cannot be used for salaries or supplies.
“We need to maintain the life of the general fund so we don’t have to come back and ask for general fund monies,” said Watkins.
Since the expiration of the original PI levy, the district has transferred $1,450,000 from the general fund to the PI fund, said Watkins Tuesday morning. The district has spent nearly $1.8 million between transfers and general fund expenditures on permanent improvement needs.
Board member Bob Smith said if the levy is put back on the ballot he’d like to see a priority list of what the levy funds would be used for.
“We need to let the people know when the items need to be accomplished by and the amount of money to be spent,” said Smith.
Watkins said he didn’t receive any feedback from voters about the length of the levy nor the amount of the millage.
“Our message about the levy was not received,” said Watkins. “We need to look at our delivery method to get the message out.”
Watkins said the district needs to move forward and try to get the levy passed this year.
“If it doesn’t pass, then we lose an entire year of general fund monies that will have to be put into the PI fund,” said Watkins.
Board member Paul Heins said the district’s residents like the smaller elementary schools that are in Sidney.
“But we need to keep up the buildings,” said Heins. “We need to make sure the permanent improvement monies are not coming out of the general fund. Down the road, we’re going to have a lot more work (on the buildings) if the work is not done yearly.
“I say we proceed with the levy,” he said.
Board members agreed to move ahead with placing the levy on the August ballot. Watkins will have a resolution of necessity prepared for the April 4 board meeting.
In other business, the board:
• Heard the first reading of new/revised policies for the district.
• Recognized the Sidney High School boys bowling team, which made school history by being the first bowling team to compete in the state competition. Each member received a resolution of recognition.
• Removed from the agenda a request to purchase InfoSnap, an online registration program, until further information can be received.
• Accepted the resignations of Maria Goffena, Emerson intervention specialist, Marlene Everett, substitute custodian, Sam Ashford, substitute maintenance, and Mega Kistner, junior varsity volleyball coach.
• Approved one-year limited contracts for Cassie Davis, substitute cook, $9.14 per hour; Alyosius Shaw, substitute custodian, $12.72 per hour, and substitute maintenance, $13.79 per hour; Peggy Bean, substitute cook, $9.14 per hour, and substitute aide, $10.61 per hour; Tim Musser, substitute bus driver, $14.62 per hour, and substitute aide, $10/61 per hour; Pam Brunswick, substitute bus driver, $14.62 per hour; and Penny Raterman, substitute aide, $10.61 per hour.
• Approved an overnight student trip for three SHS FCCLA students to the State convention in Columbus from April 28-29. Transportation will be provided by Upper Valley Career Center.
• Went into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, discipline, demotion or compensation of an employee. No action was taken.
The board’s next meeting will be Monday, April 4, at 6 p.m. at the board of education building.
