Is this levy going for administraters salary increases like the last one? I can hear the threats already of how we have to cut your son & daughters busing & sports programs. Please people don't buy it.

Ken: I'm not.

I am looking at it like this: Kent was able to get the the "Excellent with Distinction" rating without the funding. "This year marks the first year ever that the district earned the highest possible rating from the Ohio Department of Education on the latest state report cards measuring school success. " The first year ever!!! And without any added funds.....pretty impressive!

Only 75 cents a day

We do have a very nice school system that scores well. I dont remember that Kent city school got a $200,000 worth of paint the kids won in a contest BUT Its also the one they want to close next year. Our kids are doing well but I cant seem to afford more taxes.
Kent has always wanted to tax its citizens. Its been on every ballot. It was a new court house, then the library, then a new police station and now its for the schools I do love the schools but not for $500 a year. I dont know why anyone would vote to be taxed again.

Well, ain't it just like confederate man to not be able to understand that renters DO indeed pay property taxes.

All Kent admin and teachers are way over paid and under worked.At best a teacher works only 1200 hrs of a 2080 work year.So when you apply that to what they get paid per year shows how much they are over paid.

*** razzle-dazzle*** Only 75 cents per day!

Check the new County reappraisal amount for your property.

nope.

Well, Mr. Confederate Man, when I pay my rent my landlady pays a portion of it to the County when she gets the tax bill. In other words, the tax is built into the amount of the rent I pay. I just don't pay it directly. It's like my paying a buck seven at the store for a dollar item. I don't pay a dollar to the store and send seven cents to the State of Ohio. The only difference is that I get a receipt at the store telling me how much the sales tax is. I don't get a receipt every month from my landlady stating how much of it went for real estate tax.

If this passes my total real estate taxes will jump $1215.00 per year. Same piece of property as it was last year. 224 South Willow St.

I'm assuming you mean your taxes will jump to that amount. NO ONES taxes will jump that much...unless you own a lot if expensive real estate. Kent city schools has not asked for more money in 7 or 8 years...it's probably time...to al least honestly consider it.

Focusonkids, please pardon my mathematical error. Let me suffice it to say that I now pay $3,319.76 per year to the Kent City Schools in property taxes from my off-campus home for Kent State students.. Should the levy pass, that would add another $460.62, bringing my support to the schools to $3,780.38 annually.

I am not complaining. I am just stating facts. I just think that with the City wanting money for a new police station and rumblings coming from the County about a new jail, something has got to give. I am OK but there are lot of people in Kent who are not.

No, I do not want to move to Hartville.

Bugger off, Clarissa, whoever you are.

The education levy is coming in Kent this May. I do love our schools but here are some quick facts: median household income for Kent is $26,963 "2011 US Census", (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3939872.html) with below poverty rate is 35.3% Even I was a bit skeptical but this is from the US Census report

Teachers average salary Kent City Schools is $62,974, 2010-2011,(http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2011/08/01/education-secretary-teacher-salaries-could-start-at-60000/). The teachers received an average raise of $3500 per tear from 08/09 to 09/10.
You also have a number of elementary teachers making 70 to 80K a year, I mean 9 months. see for yourself
http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/teacher-salary.

These facts kinda make me sick to my stomach. We all know that this levy will pass but it will be passed without most of the people knowing that the reason we have to vote on this levy is because of all the tax abatement given to the new downtown . The superintendent even says so.
I am kinda thinking that this new downtown isn't "free"

I wonder how this levy would pass if it was a fair tax, meaning, that this tax would affect everyone including people who lived on a fix income, section 8 and so on. I have a feeling that this only affects the "working class"

Dont get me started on the upcoming police levy

As an alumni from Kent City Schools, I can say that I support the schools and administrators 100%! The bottom line is, I got a quality education from teachers I really love that prepared me to go to college with honors, and get a competitive job. Now I'm working at a job that helps people in the "real world" on a day-to-day basis, and I'm paying my own taxes, which makes the economy better for everyone.

The kids who get a poor quality education can't compete, and those are the kids that turn into adults on unemployment. I'd much rather pay the little extra in taxes now to support programs that keep our kids in school and earn that "Excellent Distinction," than pay too much, economy-wise, for poorly-educated adults who aren't getting good jobs because of it.

Its not about weather or not the school system does a good job because we all know they do. Its more of weather I can afford any more taxes. Its really about mismanaging funds and making the citizens pay for it.
just as a average consumer would think. Would me paying more, what would I get more of? More service, extra activities?

Ted: thanks for the above posts and the links. I have never seen those before.

Kent city schools are a good PUBLIC education. It's really just a bad time to be asking for funds from the taxpayers. For those of us that pay taxes every half year, the new levy would mean $135 each half on a $100K house. That's quite an increase. Looks a little different than 75 cents a day.

We will get nothing MORE for the money, but we will keep the current standard of education if I understand what the increase is for.

re: "This year marks the first year ever that the district earned the highest possible rating from the Ohio Department of Education on the latest state report cards measuring school success."

great job with no added funds.

75 cents a day at $100,000. I'm $169,000. I'm very sorry but I won't say yes this time.

Lucy, if the median household income in Kent is but $29k1 a year, how do you expect people to come up with that kind of extra money? Our teachers do a very good job, that's not even any question here, its about taxing me knowing that the city gave 10rich tax abutments to the new down town. I work hard too. I would like to keep my money in my pocket. It imitates me to see "vote yes" signs in peoples yards who don't have to pay for the levy. Freedom of opinion is still right but it still crawls under my skin. Its no different then letting anyone vote who doesn't even live in the city.
I don't think I could even vote yes on something that I wouldn't have to pay for it. If thisguy passes, I lose "my money" and if it fails, quality of education fails. Why wouldn't the teachers union kick in some money

Actually its more than the 75 cents a day. Last I knew the school was only 9the months long. So that 75 cents paid in the summer is for........?

Check out what's going on here in Medina before you vote. 2.8mil over the last 5 years taken from the students and put in the supers pocket. Find out what perks Giancola's contract has in it. Don't forget all the properties Kent State bought up for the esplanade and all the taxes lost from that.

Bingo Traci Monroe

The tenants who rent my property on South Willow pay a total of $3319.00 per year for the Kent Schools. They pay it in their rent. I am just the person who writes the check to the County. If people who rent would understand that they do indeed foot the property tax bill, they would perhaps take more of an interest in government issues. Now who do you suppose got a rent increase, small but nevertheless there, when the property appraisal went from $130,000 to $169,000? And who do you suppose will get another if the school levy passes? Make no mistake about it; if you are a renter, you DO pay the property taxes, and when they go up your rent is almost sure to eventually follow. I think that the people who want your money want you kept ignorant of this fact so that you will unquestioningly vote in favor of anything that comes along. Conspiracy! Conspiracy!

The city gave tax abatements to two old-line Kent companies to "encourage" them to build in town. Kinda reminds me of a storekeeper having to give money to the Mafia to keep his/her store from being blown up. You know; an "or else" thing. Kit speaks heresy, huh?.

I would start by closing DePeyster School where the Board of Education offices are located, and selling the property. The Board can rent a storefront or even a house for its offices. The Univrsity is using a house on South Willow Street for offices and it seems to be working just fine.

There! An money saving idea to go along with my heresy.

Yep, and the County soon to follow looking for our money for a new jail I hear tell they are already giving tours to show people how bad it is.

I would hate to see what EVERYBODY would have to pay. I can weather the storm. There are a whole lot of people for whom seventy-five cents a day for this and then seventy-five cents a day for that and then seventy-five more cents a day for something not yet thought up in the fertile brains of our leaders, makes all the difference in his/her daily struggle to keep up with the price of groceries and water and gas and electricity and insurance and rent and whatever.

The schools want money. The police want money. The County wants money. Hey guys; there ain't enough there. Ya better sit down and start talking about how to divvy up the pot that currently exists and figure out how you can all "git by."

Everybody thinks their little empire is the most important. Get over it! Share the pot!If you are unwilling to do that, step aside for someone else. A bunch of tin gods. Cheesh....

I wish Paul Yacavona were still around.

Why does more money equate to a better education for our children? Does that mean our teachers and administrators aren't doing the best job now and why not!!

The City of Kent has had a business building boom which should have been a boom for Kent City Schools, but no, Kent gave a number of those business a large and lengthy tax abetment which should not have been so generous. That caused us property owners to have to make up the tax money needed for the schools. I say WHY should property owners have to bear the full brunt of supporting the schools. Education is the responsibly of everyone. What has been done by the legislators to find a better way to fund the schools? I will vote NO just to sent a message to the State and City legislators that they need to get off their Butts and figure a better way to fund schools in ohio.

Thank You,

Stressed