Huber Heights asks voters to pass levy

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) - With its many brand new buildings, you would think the Huber Heights School District is doing just fine, but Superintendent Susan Gunnell says looks can be deceiving.

"The need for the additional funds is very real," Gunnell says.

The money used to build those new schools can't be used for anything else, which is why the district is asking voters to approve a new 8 mil levy that would generate $5.3 million and keep 77 positions from being cut.

"Everything from elementary art and music, to junior high sports, choir at the junior high, a reduction in teaching positions," says Gunnell of the cuts.

The district has tried two times already to pass a new levy. The first new money since 2005.

In the meantime it says it's cut 118 positions. In fact it's budget is $3 million less this year than two years ago.

"We have been frugal with our money, we continue to make reductions, we continue to watch all expenditures," Gunnell says.

But around town you can still find signs encouraging people to vote no on the levy, which would cost $245 a year for someone with a $100,000 home.

So we went to the source of those signs, the Concerned Citizens of Huber Heights to ask why they're against the levy.

"We're not anti-education or anti-children," says group member Ted Hoke. "It's just the people are suffering economically this time."

Hoke, whose kids graduated from the district, says he's among those on a fixed income who would find the extra taxes a burden.

He thinks it's time for the teacher's union to give something back to help fund the district.

"We cannot afford to pay for pension benefits and healthcare benefits we can't afford ourselves," Hoke says.