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RESS April 14, 2014
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Serving i Th The E Eastern astern t Maumee M Bay Communities Since 1972
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In November
Oregon looks at levy
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By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com
Back to the Wild rehabilitation center was on hand for a Bald Eagle Day held at Magee Marsh. Top photo, Bill Rutger with a Bald Eagle that was blinded after contracting West Nile Virus from a mosquito. Bottom photo, Heather Yount with a Barred Owl. Back to the Wild is experiencing a food shortage and is currently seeking donations. For more information go to www.backtothewild.com or call 419-684-9539. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)
Ross murder
Request for new attorney filed By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com A man accused of killing his estranged wife last year has filed a request in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court for a new attorney. Randall Ross, 48, who filed the request Monday, is scheduled to stand trial in the shooting death of his wife, Amy. The shooting took place in March of last year at the N. Leutz Road home of Andrea Swope, Amy’s sister, where the victim had been staying. Ross has been represented by Toledo attorneys Adrian Cimerman and John Thebes.
A hearing on the request by Ross is scheduled for May 11. Cimerman had filed a motion April 4 for a continuance to the jury trial that is set for Oct. 6, according to court records, and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 16. The case is to be heard by Judge Bruce Winters. In a separate civil case, the judge last month awarded a judgment of $1.5 million to family members of the victim. The judge also ordered Ross to pay Amy’s family 3 percent annual interest plus costs. Plaintiffs in the wrongful death lawsuit
Heartbeat Diamond Collection The Diamond Moves to the Beat of Her Heart
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If we go for a levy, which we know we have to do, it won’t be based on payroll.
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Bald Eagle Day
The Oregon school board will likely place an operating levy on the ballot this November to counter the continued loss of revenue facing the district. Jane Fruth, treasurer of the Oregon City Schools District, said at the last school board meeting that real estate taxes were down by 3.5 percent from the previous year due to reductions in valuations. “Besides the real estate issue, our revenue is flat overall. Our expenses are trending about 3 to 4 percent from last year’s fiscal year. You’re all aware school finances are cyclical in nature. In the last fiscal year, we did begin spending more money than we’re bringing in. And that is not sustainable.” She said the board has until July 25 to place a property tax levy on the November 4 ballot. To place a fixed dollar levy on the ballot, the board has until Aug. 1 to act. Board President P.J. Kapfhammer said after the meeting that it will be necessary to place a levy on the ballot this fall. Oregon voters rejected operating levies in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. “We’ve done everything we can to reduce costs and keep education where it’s at,” he said. The district, he added, is losing about $4 million per year. Increased costs to the district include additional busing and staffing for struggling students needing one-on-one tutoring by teachers as part of the implementation of the reconfiguration plan, where fifth and sixth graders attend one school, and seventh and eighth graders attend another. The plan cost the district $551,554. “The biggest thing we were lacking was getting kids who are struggling some extra time. We looked at where were we were failing, in 5, 6, 7, and 8th grades. We were going backwards at those levels. We looked at districts that had the same issues, and saw they had reversed that trend by giving struggling kids intervention time,” said Kapfhammer. “The reconfiguration has been successful. We’re seeing a real improvement.” The district has cut teacher, administrator and staff positions after failed attempts to get operating levies passed in previous years. But some positions, as part of the reconfiguration, have been brought back, including a music teacher, physical education teacher, and a guidance counselor. While noting that about 80 percent of the district’s budget goes towards teachers’ salaries and benefits, Kapfhammer said the levy is needed to stop the loss of revenue due to legislation passed by the Ohio Legislature in 2005 that phased out taxes over five years on tangible personal property of general businesses, telephone and telecommunications companies and railroads. “Oregon lost more funding than any other district,” said Kapfhammer. “We had revenue from the two refineries. When that
was stripped from us, we were hurt big time because a lot of our funding came from the refineries. Our budget went from $40 million per year to $33 million. Currently, we are losing about $3 million per year. If we didn’t spend another dollar, we are still going to lose $3 million per year. Teachers have not had cost of living adjustments for years, said Kapfhammer, though they do get annual step raises, for which the Oregon City Federation of Teachers successfully negotiate in teachers contracts. Kapfhammer said the levy would not go towards pay increases for teachers. “If we go for a levy, which we know we have to do, it won’t be based on payroll. It’s to keep what we have and make sure the kids have the right education, not to increase someone’s paycheck. I will not go to the taxpayers and ask for more money for our employees,” he said. As president of the board, Kapfhammer is getting ready to negotiate with the teachers’ union on a new contract, which expires this year. “Even if we froze step increases, we’re still out $1 million per year. So we would still need a levy regardless of that,” he said. He favors implementing merit pay for teachers in lieu of step increases, though teachers unions across the country have fought strenuously against it. I’d like to go to merit pay. If you’re a teacher doing a great job, you need to get paid more. If not, why should you get paid more? Perrysburg just went to merit pay. I think at some point, educationally, we need to say if you’re doing a good job, you get more money. If not, you don’t. We have some great people who put in a lot of hours. They need to be paid more,” he said. The school board has not yet decided on the levy’s millage, he said.
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...she helped the frail elderly live independent lives. John Szozda See page 9