I think the proposed millage of 16.78 for any levy is ABSURD!

by Mark Leguillon

My name is Mark Leguillon and I live on McKinney Road. I’m a longtime resident of the community and a graduate of the Loveland School District. I believe most people in our community think that quality education is important.

However, I think the proposed millage of 16.78 for any levy is ABSURD!

If passed, this levy will put thousands of those residents on a fixed income in financial risk. This would also include many others who live paycheck to paycheck.

Renters should also be concerned, if this levy passes it is almost a certainty that their landlords will pass the cost on to them.

The average additional tax burden to the folks that made Loveland a great place to live is about 42% – this is in an additional amount to an existing tax burden. An actual example – a homeowner currently pays $2,099 in school tax alone. This proposed levy would add an additional $878. That is $2,977 which does not include county and other local taxes (And Symmes Township is already talking about the need to place 3 levies on the ballot next year. I don’t know if the City of Loveland has any levies planned.

What other product or service can you name that has increased by 42%?

I’m happy and proud that Loveland has achieved the “Excellence in Education” award and we should thank all the staff and students for achieving that award.

I have a few questions that I hope the superintendent or the school board will respond to in writing and release the answers to all media outlets within 7 days. To stay transparent. These questions are?

1. 1. Is there a secret super-duper excellence award that this levy would insure it can obtain? (in other words, how would this levy drastically improve the education of the student?)
   2. How does spending $10-$12 Million dollars on astroturf of engineered athletic fields improve the education of the student? Is there a direct correlation between these types of fields and much higher grade point averages?
   3. Do I understand that the Board has spent $100,000 of our taxpayer money that is not refundable and has committed to about $7.8 Million Dollars for the rest of the Grailville property without the levy passing?

(I see this as the extortion part of your plan….)

I am just waiting for that official to stand up and say “WE WILL LOSE THE $100,000 IF WE DON’T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN.

1. 1. DOES THIS REMIND ANYONE OF THE STREETCAR IN CINCINNATI??

So you really know how I feel!

I’m angry and I see these actions as careless and Irresponsible.

Now I’m going to give you one hypothetical:

If the taxpayers could demand a 42% reduction to the entire school district budget how do you think that would be received by the school district? Especially if it was only for 37 years (that is what you’re asking from the taxpayers in reverse).

I understand that the last levy passed was a 5.6 levy in 2014.

If the buildings are in such bad shape and there is an overcrowding problem. I believe these and other problems rest clearly on your leadership or lack of.

Since the past problems were not addressed – what circumstances would create a want so large as to do financial harm to our neighbors

In ending I would like to talk about process and reality.

I understand that we hired consultants. My opinion of consultants is they exist for 2 reasons.

1. 1. They tell you about existing problems you should already know about,
   2. AND THE BIG ONE

THEY TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR WHETHER YOU CAN AFFORD IT OR NOT!

DID THEIR REPORT INCLUDE THE PART ABOUT THIS LEVY BANKRUPTING MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS?

IT DIDN’T CONCERN THEM THEY ARE CONSULTANTS –

BUT IT SHOULD CONCERN YOU!

[Video] Mark Leguillon addresses BOE on school levy

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