Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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  • A resident’s Q&A Facts – Loveland City School District Levy

    A resident’s Q&A Facts – Loveland City School District Levy

    by Dale Friemoth

    Dale Friemoth is a Loveland School District resident and lives on East Loveland Avenue in Loveland.

    I have put together some facts on the proposed Loveland City School District (LCSD) Levy in a question and answer format with footnotes on sources.

    After gathering and evaluating these facts, I am voting NO on the Loveland School Levy on the November 5th ballot!

    Question

    I keep hearing about the Levy lasting for 3 years before the Loveland School Board believes they will need to come back to the voters for more money – are the levies on the ballot for 3 years or are they “permanent”?

    The levy on the ballot is divided into three sections totaling 16.78 mills1;  one is for 37 years and the other two are for “continuing period of time” or PERMANENT.

    1. 6.42 mills: Issue bonds for land purchase, construction bond, and improving sites – 37-year duration (This IS permanent for many voters; I’ll be nearly 100 in 37 years!)

    2. 3.41 mills: Funds for permanent improvements – permanent.

    3. 6.95 mills: Funds to pay operating expenses – permanent  (Note:  this is a 24% increase over the last Operating Fund Levy of 5.6 mills in passed in 20142).

    Question

    What is the monthly and yearly increase over what I’m currently paying for Loveland Schools?

    • This levy would be a 42% increase in the school taxes that you are currently paying.

    • You will pay an additional $49 per month ($587.30 per year) for every $100,000 of your home’s appraised value2.  Own a $250,000 home; your taxes increase ~$1,468 per year!

    Question

    I’m a renter, will I need to pay this tax levy?

    • As a renter, you typically would not pay a real estate tax directly, though common sense would tell us that landlords will attempt to pass on their increased costs.

    • This levy will impact you as well – ask your landlord what they intend to do if the levy passes!

    Question

    Will the Board purchase the land at Grailville even if the levy issue fails?

    • The Loveland School District has already paid a $100,000.00 non-refundable deposit on the Grailville property3.  According to Art Jarvis, President – Loveland Board of Education1 “The board will purchase the GV property if the levy fails. This levy represents needs, not wants.  Unfortunately, the GV (Grailville) property is the only suitable land available in the school district, and it will eventually be needed to expand for our growing student population and their educational needs.” 

    • Dr. Amy Crouse – Superintendent hedges this some stating “The Board of Education has not yet voted on any purchase of land.  The LCSDBOE must take formal action concerning the purchase of the property prior to March (2020) per the option-to-purchase contract with The Grail.”

    • Although not formally approved by the Board, the plan would be to pay for the $70,000 per acre ($7,700,000 total) land purchase using funds from the existing Permanent Improvement Levy that was approved to maintain existing buildings.

    • Use these funds instead of “diverting funds to pay for temporary solutions such as trailers for classroom space.2”

    • Use these funds so LSD won’t need “to continue to defer important safety and security upgrades2”.  (Currently deferring important safety and security upgrades – the community should be aghast!!)

    • Use these funds instead of “diverting funds from the classroom” so that we can make critical fixes in our schools.

    Question

    Has the Board of Education and school management held down operating expenses to reduce the impact on taxpayers?

    • Since the last Operating Expense Levy in 2014, the Loveland School District’s Operating Expenditures6 increased from $43,225, 390 to $55,568,450 projected for 2019, or 5% compounded annually with a large 13% increase from 2018 to 2019.

    • The Cost per Pupil went from $8,600 in 2014 to $10,689 in 2019 which is now $968 per pupil higher than the state average.

    • This 5% annual LSD expense growth compares to a 1.66% United States average inflation rate7 (2015-2019E) over the same basic time period. LSD operating expenses are increasing three times (3x) inflation!

    Question

    If the Levy fails, won’t the Loveland School District be in a financial crisis?

    • Loveland School District will have funds required to operate through the end of fiscal 2021 though the district would fall into “fiscal watch” after this time according to the Ohio Department of Education definition. 

    • There are multiple opportunities to put a reasonable levy on the ballot before the end of fiscal 2021, this is not a crisis!

    Question

    There has been extensive growth in housing and rental properties within the LSD the past 10+ years, have we seen this same growth in Loveland students attending our schools?

    • Loveland District total enrolment decreased from 4,566 to 4,462 in the past 10 years (2007/8 to 2017/18)6 even as the community residence numbers increased.

    • As they say for investments “past performance is not indicative of future results” but no one has presented any evidence supporting future headcount growth.

    Question

    Does the Levy fund updated and new Athletic & Extracurricular Facilities that are historically funded through boosters, private donations, & corporate sponsorships?

    • The LSD plans include ~$10M in athletic upgrades8 including: New turf fields for baseball, softball, & multi-use.;  New locker rooms, restroom facility, ticket booth, and gateway entrance; and New concessions building.

    • Plans also include $22.5M5,8 for a new performing arts building with an auditorium for ~1000 and six (6) additional classrooms.

    • This $32. M equals 20% of the total $165M “ask”.

    1Official ballot language

    2LCSD Website

    3LCSD contract to purchase The Grail land

    426-August-2019 e-mail to Loveland resident

    56-October-2019 letter to Loveland resident

    6Ohio Department of Education Score Card

    7U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

    8LCSD breakout of planned cost for implementing “Build Tiger Nation”

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  • Wayne Pagel: Proposed Loveland School Levy Defies Logic

    Wayne Pagel: Proposed Loveland School Levy Defies Logic

    by Wayne Pagel

    There is a logical reason for voting against the 42% tax increase proposed in the Loveland School Levy: a 42% tax increase is illogical. Unconscionable. Federal Income Tax. Ohio State Income Tax. Loveland City Income Tax, State and local sales tax. Hamilton, Clermont and Warren County property tax. 

    Wayne Pagel is an 11 year resident of Loveland residing on Rich Road.

    Our own most recent property tax disbursement indicates that 60% of those taxes were disbursed to the Loveland School District.  Through its proposed levy, the Loveland School Board feels that portion should be 77%. A bigger slice of a larger pie. 

    Good for the community? The 14 other recipients, including Family and Children Services, Public Library, Mental Health, Senior Services, Indigent Hospital Care, should understand that the School Board’s deep dive into the pockets of the taxpayers of Loveland to build Fine Arts Centers, Student Collaboration Areas, and artificial turf practice facilities may put a squeeze on any revenue increases or levies in the foreseeable future. There is a limit to how much we can afford and after all, the School Board seems to be first in line. It’s doubtful the board members will form any PACs, hire any consultants, or orchestrate any media campaigns for those causes representing the other 23% of the community’s needs.

    Loveland Schools are stellar. They receive the highest ratings possible.  Our teachers are incredible. They deserve to be well compensated. They are. These things are being accomplished because of the commitment and dedication of the people, including parents, doing the hard work of coaching and educating our children every day. A reasonable, practical approach to revenue enhancement would have been well received and supported. Opposing this one by no means represents a lack of concern or support for Loveland educators. 

    Most of us share in the common goal of providing a good education for our children, saving for their college educations, paying for a home, retiring comfortably. These taxes do not guarantee meeting the needs of our children or for that matter our teachers, rather they

    are a list of wants. Dollars directed from your income to pay for the Board of Education’s wants can’t be invested for your children’s college expenses. Taxes rarely go down, or away. We can pay off our mortgages and debts, but these taxes will continue well into our own retirements. When children starting school next fall graduate from college, they will have 20 years left to pay on this inherited levy should it pass on November 5th. 

    Educating our children is our individual and collective responsibility.  Setting an example of making practical, economically prudent choices with our financial resources should be part of that education.

    Send the message to the Board of Education that the community deserves and demands a better approach. Vote Against the Loveland School Levy on November 5th

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  • Thought you knew how school buses will get to Grailville? (See proposed street re-configuration)

    Thought you knew how school buses will get to Grailville? (See proposed street re-configuration)

    This illustration* shows the reconfiguration of the streets in Historic Downtown in the City of Loveland’s Downtown Strategic Development Plan

    (“Right Click” this Map and open a new tab or window for an enlarged view)

    Intersection reconfiguration – Develop parcels

     • Explore, design and fund a reconfigured Loveland Avenue at State Route 48/Second Street.

    • Confirm feasibility of Broadway Square-About.

    • Explore, design and fund a reconfigured Broadway and State Route 48/Second Street intersection.

    • Develop sites created by reconfigured Loveland Avenue and Second Street reconfiguration.

    Loveland, Ohio – The 5-10 year timeline of the City of Loveland’s proposed Downtown Strategic Development Plan could throw a wrecking ball into the current strategy of how to route school buses, EMS, Fire, Police, and other rush-hour vehicular traffic to a proposed new school campus at Grailville.

    Under the Loveland School District’s facility master plan adopted on April 16, they will be constructing a new Pre-K through fifth-grade campus on 110 acres at the property known as Grailville, located on O’Bannonville Road, east of downtown Loveland. Preliminary plans show the main entrance to the new school campus to be on St. Rt. 48 near St. Columban School and the White Pillars Subdivision. There will also be ingress and egress on O’Bannonville Road.

    The real estate is currently owned by the Grail, an Ohio nonprofit organization. The District has an option to purchase the vacant land.

    The map above shows the reconfiguration of the streets in Historic Downtown in the City of Loveland’s Downtown Strategic Development Plan that was approved by the Loveland Planning and Zoning Commission this past August and by Loveland City Council on September 10.

    The Downtown Strategic Development Plan proposes placing a new commercial development into a space freed-up when West Loveland Avenue and St. Route 48 is bisected. Also, a “Square-About” replaces the current five-way intersection at St. Route 48, Hanna Avenue, 2nd Street, and Broadway.

    On July 26 the District passed a resolution asking voters to approve a combined 16.78-mill Operating and Bond levy that if passed on November 5, will pave the way to the Grailville campus opening in the fall of 2022.

    The street re-configuration is proposed to be implemented within 5 to 10 years, i.e., 2024-2029.

    TIMELINE

    March 22, 2019 – District acquires an option to purchase 110 acres at Grailville for 3 new school buildings (Pre-K through fifth-grade campus on 110 acres).

    April 16, 2019 – Loveland School District’s facility Master Plan adopted that proposes Pre-K through fifth-grade campus on 110 acres at Grailville).

    July 26, 2019 – School District puts combined 16.78-mill Operating and Bond levy on the ballot that if passed on November 5, will pave the way to the Grailville campus opening in the fall of 2022.

    August, 2019 – Downtown Strategic Development Plan approved by the Loveland Planning and Zoning Commission with bisected West Loveland Avenue and St. Route 48, and a new “5-Way Intersection”. New commercial development will replace part of current West Loveland Avenue and St. Route 48.

    September, 2019 – Loveland City Council adopts the Downtown Strategic Development Plan reccomended by the Planning Commission.

    September 2022 – Proposed Grailville Campus opens.

    2024-2029 – West Loveland Avenue and St. Route 48 in Historic Downtown are bisected, making space for new commercial development.

    2024-2029 – “Square-About” replaces five-way intersection at St. Route 48, Hanna Avenue, 2nd Street, and Broadway.

    Read the City of Loveland’s proposed Downtown Strategic Development Plan: Downtown Master Plan (Go to page 51 to read “YEARS 5 TO 10 AND BEYOND”)

     

    (*The under-layer of the illustration (MAP) above is taken from Loveland’s Downtown Strategic Development Plan. Arrows and text have been added to show probable bus and vehicular traffic patterns to a Grailville school campus under the plan)

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    Moving Sale at Wildflower House in Historic Loveland Starts Today

    Some really nice things, in great shape! — including: 2 matching overstuffed armchairs, 4 matching World Market wood tables in various sizes, 5 matching small round wicker side tables, 1 small wicker chest of drawers, 1 lateral file, 10 super-comfy World Market folding wood relaxation chairs with full length cushions, white restroom/bedroom cabinet, monitor, a set of matching rugs – and many small items.
  • Re-Broadcast of residents speaking about school levy at October 15 Board meeting

    Re-Broadcast of residents speaking about school levy at October 15 Board meeting

    Loveland, Ohio – On Tuesday, October 15 residents spoke at the Loveland Board of Education business meeting about the combined 16.78 mil operating and bond levy that will be on the November 5 ballot.

    Speakers in order of appearance were:

    • Danielle McKay
    • Dave Shoemaker
    • Ben Krieger
    • Adam Gleim
    • Matt Hassert
    • Marcia Neumann
    • Deron Taul
    • Randi Granat
    • Patty Russo
    • David Kern
    LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV was there and broadcast live from the meeting. This is a re-broadcast.

  • Stephanie Savely on School Levy: What do we agree on?

    Stephanie Savely on School Levy: What do we agree on?

    Stephanie Savely lives in the West Loveland Historic District in Loveland

    by Stephanie Savely

    The levy is driving a wedge in our beautiful town. Can we “push pause” for just a minute? Can we take a deep breath and focus on what we agree on?

    I believe, if asked, most of us would say that:

    • We love our “little” town. 
    • We know the value and importance of providing a good public education. 
    • We know that our school buildings need work and some probably even need to be replaced.

    Most would even agree that there are probably some items, regardless of the actual dollar amount, in the levy that aren’t “mission critical.”

    So, I have one simple question. What harm is there in asking the school board to take the overwhelming amount of feedback they have received and revise the plan?

    This isn’t an all or nothing situation. Our city is more important than that.

    This problem has been years in the making, and a few more months won’t matter.

    Our community, our schools, our neighborhoods, our friendships are worth coming together and tackling this well. Together.

    Don’t forget, we ARE Loveland Strong.

  • Take Our Poll on School Levy

    Take Our Poll on School Levy

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  • Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live from School Board meeting Tuesday

    Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live from School Board meeting Tuesday

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine TV will broadcast live the “Hearing of the Public” portion of the Loveland School Board of Education meeting Tuesday.

    The meeting starts at 6 PM in the media center at the Loveland Middle School. Go HERE to view the meeting agenda.

    We will begin broadcasting at 6 PM and “Hearing of the Public” is the 4th agenda item.

    Go to the Loveland Magazine FaceBook page to watch the meeting live.

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  • Linda Holtkamp on school levy: “Loveland Gives!”

    Linda Holtkamp on school levy: “Loveland Gives!”

    by Linda Holtkamp

    We are a generous city, especially where our schools are involved. We have passed levy after levy after levy, by comfortable margins, whenever we were told there was need.

    Now, we are being told there is great need, urgent need, to bring our facilities up to date.

    Linda Holtkamp lives in the Plantation Pointe subdivision in Symmes Township

    And it’s going to require enormous sacrifice. The schools all need to be extensively revamped or demolished, and it will cost each property owner thousands of dollars, additional, every year, for a very long time. 37 years at the minimum. And, well, most of the money will have to be paid forever.  We are going to build big, and we are going to build new. Renovating, for the most part, is not an option.

    Repairing or using what we already have at the primary school level is off the table. We need new land, 110 acres of it, and it will cost $7.7 million dollars. It’s raw land, so, it will need massive amounts of expensive preparation before it can even be built upon. We need three new, state of the art buildings on that land, with brand new everything inside. Just figure about $92,000,000 for the whole project, and we have Preschool through 5th grade settled.

    Middle school is in pretty good shape, having been renovated when the high school was built. But, we could build outside bathrooms and clean up the sports area in the back, add an 8 lane track so the track team does not have to go all the way to the high school to practice, and new bleachers. The school needs a skylight because it’s too dark inside, and upgrades to the entrance. Let’s budget about $25,000,000.

    The high school is our newest complex, but still needs some high ticket items.

    For sports, the need is for turf on baseball, softball, and a multi-purpose field. Grass is not good enough, as occasionally it gets muddy. We absolutely need new concession stands and a new gateway entrance because, well, we just do. We should budget about $10 million for sports.

    The school itself has big, costly needs. The auditorium, while it is absolutely fine, almost brand new, is too small for Show Choir and band concerts. We need new, so let’s plan for the future in a big way. Let’s go with a two-story, 1,000 seat auditorium. Around that, we will build multiple band rooms, art rooms, and a photo studio. $16,000,000. Sixteen Million Dollars. Just for Fine Arts. That should do it. Good acoustics are pricy. 

    Remember that existing, beautiful, approximately 578 seat auditorium with years of usable life left? We will completely demolish that, level out the floor, and use that space for science labs. The Robotics Team members will get space there, along with lots of ultra-expensive equipment to further their projects. 

    The total budget for the high school reno and new building will amount to $53,000,000.

    As you see, almost half of the money is going to the two newest school complexes.

    Grand total, with more thrown in for overruns: $165,000,000. Plus $7.7 million for the land

    You will get great satisfaction sending the schools 43% more school property taxes each year. On top of what you already pay. And, this increase is so large, the schools will never need to ask for money again, right?

    Nope. Look for another levy in 3 years, for more operating expenses.

    That is a promise, as well.

    Join your neighbors and fellow taxpayers who find this plan, and the costs involved, totally unworkable.

    Vote AGAINST the levy on Tuesday, November 5.

    It’s OK to say NO.

  • Anna Bunker on “Buildings in a Tiger Nation”

    Anna Bunker on “Buildings in a Tiger Nation”

    by Anna Bunker

    As a mother of three kids, a school volunteer and a supporter of every teacher in the Loveland School District, I agree the classroom trailers and teachers on carts (not classrooms) are not a long-term solution. I also agree the District has no $0 option.   

    My question is how did we get to this point?

    First, how did the schools get into a position to have additional teachers without classrooms or the need for extra space (i.e. trailers) when all the data shows there has been NO significant student growth in the Loveland School district in 10 years?

    Second, the age of buildings is not a reason to abandon them and start anew. There are plenty of 80+-year-old schools throughout the United States and Cincinnati that are still serving their communities. If the school district had invested money into maintaining and improving these buildings this may not be an issue. For what it is worth, according to the 2018 Loveland City School District Financial Reports, the 2018 maintenance budget was cut by over $1 million between 2017 and 2018.

    I’ve heard comments praising the Board of Education for stretching levy money out past their original request, but there is another viewpoint. We, the Loveland voters, approved a levy giving the school district money to keep the schools operating and maintained, so why didn’t they spend the money? Some may call this fiscally responsible, but if the buildings haven’t been maintained and updated and now need to be replaced, isn’t that being fiscally irresponsible?

    CHALLENGE for the Board of Education

    I urge that the Board of Education and Administration to take a deep dive into the ROOT CAUSE of how the LCSD got the taxpayers into this situation of voting FOR or AGAINST one of largest School Levy requests in the State of Ohio and then, create processes and procedures to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future. 

    Personally, I cannot support giving the school district a gift of three new school buildings, which, if building maintenance process is not corrected, will need to be replaced after the bond is paid off in 37 years.

    In the September 12th information session at the High School, Superintendent Crouse told us that if the new $16 million Fine Arts Center with a 1,000 seat auditorium were added to the campus, the existing auditorium building would then be used for educational space including, adding a space for the Robotics team since they have to currently share space with the wrestling team.   

    Historically, school boosters have been responsible for fundraising and paying for costs/maintenance for their activities. As taxpayers, we are responsible for electing the Board of Education who we trust to provide quality education to ALL our children, not just the athletes, choirs, bands or other extracurricular teams.

    CHALLENGE for Loveland Voters

    This levy will be a hardship for many Loveland residents. I have a challenge to anyone that is FOR the levy and this increase will not be a hardship on your family, please make a healthy donation to the Loveland Music Boosters, Loveland Robotics Team or the Loveland Athletic Boosters. Help these Boosters raise the money they need to improve their programs, but please don’t ask taxpayers to make sacrifices for these extracurricular programs.

    Loveland Music Boosters

    https://sites.google.com/site/lovelandmusicboosters/home

    P.O. Box 453

    Loveland OH 45140

    Loveland Robotics Boosters

    https://www.lovelandroboticsboosters.org/

    P.O. Box 272

    Loveland OH 45140

    Loveland Athletic Boosters

    http://lovelandathleticboosters.com/

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  • BOE President Art Jarvis gives speech about school levy at 9/24 Board meeting

    BOE President Art Jarvis gives speech about school levy at 9/24 Board meeting

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Board of Education met on September 24 and Board President Art Jarvis concluded the “Hearing of the Public” portion of the meeting with a prepared speech of his own about the combined operating and bond levy of 16.78-mil that will be before voters on the November 5 ballot. (Loveland Board of Education asks for combined 16.78-mill levy)

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