So, I wonder if those 7490 voters can get the issue back on the ballot like the school board did when they didn't get their 'for' vote the first time voters voted on this? Does anyone know if that is permitted or are schools treated differently than voters?

Wow, that money sure came in fast from this levy that they suddenly have the funds to start busing back this Monday! Amazing!

Give it a rest Ed. It's over, Stow's kids won.

And by the by, although property values were lowered in Summit County, many of the valuations were based on appraisals that were already too high. I have successfully challenged my property taxes and my neighbors property taxes for the three previous valuations - before the latest big drop. I would be more than happy to lend my experience in this matter to anyone who would like to challenge their property taxes on the next go around. Getting you valuation lowered ** only if it really is too high** is a way of giving yourself a property tax cut.

I beg to differ. The kids have won, because regardless of where the money truly is going, we would have been the ones to suffer. Thank you Stow, for saving my senior year.

Thank you voters of Stow!

Thank you 48.21 percent of the voters in Stow for saying, 'no'.

""Bulgrin added the levy "won't make us solvent -- it will just [allow us] to limp along."

Board member Denny Mariola said the district would need 10 to 13 mills "to get out of trouble.""

The above is from the April 3, 2011 issue of The Stow Sentry.

They'll be back.

Renewal Levy in February,
send a message
VOTE NO.

Misty, please ignore those who've expressed their complete lack of compassion. They haven't yet walked in your shoes and therefore aren't touched by the feelings of your situations. There are some (not all) levy supporters who attacked others by saying those that couldn't vote yes, no matter their circumstance, were just being selfish. But, many voters have had their eyes opened through this process and then to hear that suddenly after the levy vote busing is restored even though they claimed they didn't have money this fall to keep them rolling. A lot of eyes have been opened and more will be opened when they realize that this new tax begins last January 1, 2011 and not in the future. I hope the new board will be very frank with people and not try to spin things. If a tax is retroactive they need to have the guts to say it and have that in their newspaper reports. Many did not know before voting yesterday and are upset and feel like they were deceived. Many others also feel like they were duped because all of a sudden they can roll the buses on Monday even though that new levy money hasn't been collected yet.
I understand Woodridge voters saw through some of the rhetoric and they voted down their new levy. Of course, Stow and Munroe Falls also voted this one down already, but evidently 'no' votes don't count until a district asks 3 times. Of course, as soon as they get one passed, the door is shut on voters to bring it back up. Our system is rigged in favor of big money.

We are so very happy the school issue was voted in. I don't EVER like the idea of curtailing busing - it could be too dangerous for some students. I also don't want the students to suffer in playing a sport. For some students this is their star in life and we need to support that. Kids need sports - you don't want them on the streets causing trouble due to boredom. NOW WITH SOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS LET'S GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. Think of the kids. Karlen

@lissa baily : Thanks for your kind words.

You are so right; people have been duped. More eyes will be opened when the RETROACTIVE tax bills arrive just after Christmas in mid January.

Now it seems the levy lovers have a new tool. High school students can came come here and post the party line and rhetoric they were force fed by the schools, and if anyone dares to respond they are accused of "ATTACKING A CHILD". I feel bad for the kids because they were used as pawns and lied to. When these kids are a few years older and out in the real world, they will realize how they were used. It's the schools and the school board who should be ashamed of how they used the kids to spread their rhetoric, scaring them by threatening to take away their buses, sports, and after school activities - all of which $55 MILLION could adequately fund,

And for all those saying. "Give it a rest, it's over"...well...it should have been over last August, but it wasn't. And next year they're coming back for more..so no...I'm not giving it a rest.

THANK YOU to our Stow Munroe Falls freshman cheerleaders and their coaches for being part of the levy watch. They cheered the "FOR" vote until the end. Great job!

@lissa bailey--I'm curious--what is it about Misty Pawlin's situation that we would benefit from walking in her shoes? Just askin....

Hi Matt. Thank you for asking. Can a person benefit and increase their understanding of others by walking a mile in their shoes? Some would say yes. Can a person who has never experienced what it's like to not have enough income to pay their bills, for any reason such as losing a job, illness or death of a loved one, fully understand a person who's going through that? Since most reasonable people would say their personal understanding is limited in regards to others whose shoes they haven't walked in, they would at least be open minded and show compassion even though they don't fully comprehend. Does that mean a financially well off person should seek poverty in order to understand the plight of others less fortunate? No. What it means is to realize we don't always fully comprehend the feelings of their infirmities and with that awareness we are careful not to put them down or tell them they are wrong or demean them. For instance, a good husband would show compassion for their wife when she's in labor even though he's never walked in her shoes and cannot fully comprehend what she's going through. Those that just claim all those who voted 'no' which is almost half of all residents, are just selfish don't have understanding and in fact lack compassion. While there are levy supporters who would never presume such thoughts and would never try to put others down because they realize there are hurting people who voted against the levy.

Congratulations to all whom voted for the Levy! I believe it has been since 02' since it last passed. Good to see, go Stow!!

@ Steve Eaton - Did you even bother to read what I wrote, or were you just going by Danielle? If you had read for content you would have seen I was merely responding to a post. Attacking other posters is not allowed here, so my post would have been mod-deleted if deemed inappropriate.

@ John Moyer: Do you deny teachers encouraged students to get their parents to support the levy. How many "LAST CHANCE TO SAVE OR SCHOOLS' propaganda fliers did the schools send out? You even had the Stow cheerleaders cheering on the election night results. If a high school student wants to post here, then we are allowed to respond to those posts. As you said yourself, she is a "mature young lady" not a "child".

The proof is in the pudding. There was supposedly no money for busing, but as soon as the levy passed, the buses will start rolling on Monday before a penny of this levy is collected. The tactics of the school board to intimidate parents and students into supporting levies by cutting basic services that directly affect them is despicable.

@ Ricky Stowater (Interesting last name, by the way)

I'm talking about money going to student programs first, since everyone on the school board pretends the students are top priority. In reality, when the budget is broken down, the vast majority of taxpayer dollars go not to the students, but to support administrative and school employee salaries and benefits.

I can see the writing on this wall here literally. The pro levy lovers are out in force and ganging up on people who are against the levy. Keep at it if it amuses you. I am not intimidated on iota. I don't care if it's 50 to one. I will continue to voice my opinion.

Sorry Misty - I don't think it is ganging up on people against the levy, I think it is more ganging up on someone that should practice a bit of silence.

The cheerleaders came because they wanted to celebrate the EXCELLENT school district that we have and as always, they were Awesome!! Along with the cheerleaders were many Excellent employees (yes, even teachers!!) and community members that know the value of education. The pudding you speak of tastes great because the proof is that the levy passed and it's our school district and our community that benefit.

I'm glad the levy watch went well and had something to celebrate! If not for the PTA meeting at Kimpton, I'd have been there to celebrate with everyone. Thanks for all you do for the schools Mrs. Wright!

Yes, Frank, there is significant anger in me - as there is in many others - but it's not pent up. I predict that there will be even more anger expressed when people realize this tax is retroactive in January. I also predict there will be a lot more homes up for sale and people going into foreclosure because they can't afford to live here anymore. Come back in six months Steve, and see if I'm still "speaking gibberish" or if I'm right.

Thank you to the 51.79% for voting 'yes' and having the vision to look long term at a situation. .....and thank you Patch for allowing me to add this colorful commentary.

We don't want any commenters/users to ever leave. Like I've always said: we want every and all opinions shared here as long as they follow our rules: http://patch.com/A-n8tT

Can you close your Patch account?
"you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave." -Eagles
I don't think it's possible. You're stuck here.

Ward, they are free to leave. Its ok

I guess I struggle with understanding why anyone would want to stay in any community that made them so angry and upset! It can't be healthy and if the financial burden is also too great wouldn't leaving make the most sense. Plus if you don't like the schools or think they are not worth the extra taxes – wouldn’t you want to cut your losses and move someplace more suitable to a given lifestyle. I don't think it is being elitist to suggest someone move if they are that unhappy. I think it would be very hard to convince the majority in a community they should accept a lower educational or community standard for the benefit of those who won't or can't pay for the services they enjoy using! BTW the 2009 per capita income for Munroe Falls was $30,326 with an average home value of $166,193 and Stow $29,280 and $169,706. The March 2011 unemployment rate for Munroe Falls was 8.8% and Stow was 7.7 % -- Ohio was 9.0% Hardly an elitist community – but a great place to live especially for those who want to take part in making it an even better place to live. Love it or leave it but for Pete’s sake don’t let it keep ruining your day!!!!

We all need stop complaining about the levy and get down to business in seeking the needed cuts that already should have been done and still need to be. We still need to close Highland and reduce our staff. At our peak in 2006, we had 6000 students, today; we have fewer than 5400 students. This summer the board had a chance to save over 100,000 dollars by changing the Healthcare policy that allows 7 married couples in our district to take two family healthcare plans instead of sharing 1 healthcare plan. This would have saved the district 2 1/2 times the amount (40,000) they claimed they would have saved cutting busing. Why wasn't this done. Just because this levy passed we still need to make the necessary cuts.

Lisa, I believe we all need to give solutions to this matter and try to figure out what move we need to take next, We are not out of debt, this districtis still just holding on. I for one do not want them to come again in a couple of years for more money. Remember, Bulgrin added " the levy won't make us solvent--it will just allow us to limp along". Board member, Denny Mariola, said the district would need 10 to 13 mills to get out of trouble". Stow Sentry, April 3, 2011. Thanks, James Pistorio!

Be careful Dean. They'll call you a complainer and then try to find out where you live, how much you make or how much your property is worth. Some on here will have you on their Patch radar to berate everything you say that has to do with living within a budget or making adjustments in expenses since student enrollment has dropped. They'll tell you to move since they feel empowered by the 51 percent vote. They seem to want 49 percent of Stow and Munroe Falls to move south. They don't want us even discussing this on Patch. They want to silence you and many others. I feel like this site is wasting my time and I wish to close my account. I've got more work hours coming anyhow which will help me with the additional taxes that I have to pay from the first half of 2011 that I didn't know I'd have to pay until this levy passed. We live on a tight monthly budget. I enjoyed visiting Patch at different times as a little break and to express what I and about half of the other residents felt about this levy. But, the way we've witnessed some people act on here even after they got what they wanted on the second try has really been disappointing. I hope others reading StowPatch from outside Stow don't think we're all without compassion for some of our struggling residents.

Amanda, please close my account immediately. There does not seem to be a way to do that or it has not been made public. I will not comment on here and also wish for my profile page and account to be deleted.

I just love the way all the Bill O'Reillys here have made lissa and me the stars of this board; mentioned by almost every poster. And why? Because we dare to state our opinions which differ from the party line.

LEVY SURVIVAL MANUAL - Part 2

2. Homestead Exemption : The Homestead Exemption is available to homeowners who are 65 years or older or totally disabled under the age of 65. Surviving spouse of a qualified homeowner who was at least 59 years old on the date of their spouse’s death is also eligible. You must be the owner of the home or manufactured home and it must be your primary residence on January 1 for the tax year you apply......................Under the new program every senior citizen or permanently disabled homeowner will receive an exemption of $25,000 on the market value of their home from property taxes, regardless of their income.

http://fiscaloffice.summitoh.net/index.php/homestead-exemption
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the next valuation rolls around, we will be advising people how they can legitimately challenge their property tax assessments and have a good chance of winning. The caveat here is that your house must really be over assessed, and you have to prove it. I have had great success with this, and I would be glad to assist anyone who needs help.

@Misty- Stating that we want Field Trips and lower Pay to Play fees, more access to extra-curricular activities and Busing is something we should all want for our kids in Stow. its worth the extra $ to make sure that they have this. I understand what you are arguing but the kids benefit from this tremendously.

Thanks

It's most often the people without kids (and often more specifically seniors) who make the most ridiculous claims on what should be cut from the schools, or what things our kids should be able to do without. If you don't want to support a community that is growing and has a vested interest in raising our kids the best way possible. It's pretty simple - MOVE. I will recommend a good realtor for you.

Steve, no one wants to see these things cut, it's just that we feel $55 million is a sufficient amount of money to pay for all this. Look how they blew $39,000 on the August levy without batting an eyelash! Who is accountable for making that poor business decision? Our school board, rather than take pay cuts or cut benefits as the private sector has had to do, continue to spend our money like it is never going to run out. Sooner or later - probably sooner - the board is going to have to make real cuts, not paper cuts aimed at hurting students and parents to get votes. It's a given; spending can't go on this way. They scraped this levy through, but I don't think the threat of cutting busing is going to work a third time, especially when as soon as they got what they wanted, the buses will be running on Monday. Lots of people feel they were played.

People out of work or on a fixed income are going to be in a lot of financial trouble come January trying to pay for this levy that is RETROACTIVE. You watch, it'll go radioactive and burn a hole through what's left of the property values in this town. And if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire, look for more misery. The timing couldn't be worse:

Why Your Tax Bill Might Surge Next Year

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/11/07/why-your-tax-bill-might-surge-next-year/#ixzz1dQqiIvcR

Don't be so dramatic Misty. I'm not "ranking" on anyone. Just stating facts. As far as karma goes I am not worried. Those who should worry are the ones who vote against what is in the best interest for our kids and their education. Everyone does have the right to their opinion. Never said they didn't, again, overly dramatic. Half empty plazas have nothing to do with the city, it's not up to the city to provide reasonable rates for lease or a plaza that has seen some kind of upkeep in the last decade. Where do you even get your numbers for $39k? Please give me a source? Or is it again the Stow idiots web site? Do you even have any kids in the school system?

@ Chris Butts - Get a clue! Maybe you should go back and read what you wrote. You suggested that senior citizens should move out of Stow if they don't want - or CAN'T AFFORD to support your kid's education at the level YOU think they should. Maybe some of us have, what is to us, more important things to pay for like food, housing, and medical care. I quote from YOUR heartless post, "It's most often the people without kids (***and often more specifically seniors***) who make the most ridiculous claims on what should be cut from the schools......It's pretty simple - MOVE. I will recommend a good realtor for you."

The last line isn't even witty; it's pathetic; HARSH and HEARTLESS in the extreme. Fortunately, you represent only a small group levy supporters. I can't imagine the majority who supported the levy would want anything to do with your comments.

Apparently, in the Chris Butts' world, people are entitled to their opinion, but if they don't want to vote your way, THEY SHOULD MOVE. Seniors on a fixed income should uproot themselves and move. That is a post that will live in infamy (thanks to screen shots), and has already lit a fire under a lot of people who don't know how to use a computer, but were shown what you wrote.

@ Chris Butts ..and to finish: The wasted $39,000 is matter of public record. In your haste to chastise me about being overly "dramatic", you failed to say what you thought of my idea to starting cutting expenses by cutting Russ Jones salary and bonus. So Chris, what do you think about that? Does 'Dr. Can't Live Within a Budget' deserve a six figure salary and a BONUS?? I say NO!!

And by the by, half empty plazas have everything to do with the health of the city. Stow is no where near thriving.

Let's cut Dr. Jones down to minimum wage - wait she still wouldn't be happy with that.

PS - Hi Lissa & Ward I know your still looking.......

No when the voters came out, and there were tons this time, the levy one...Majority rules.... the supporters are huge not a small group. You need to get a clue. its OVER im sure you can find something else to complain about

no ,molly it wasn't the levy that made people come out to vote it was issue 2.when people are threaten to take things away that people count on to get there kids to and from school to get an education what happens if there are no kids in school because they can't get there who suffers the teachers not!!! but that doesn't matter as long as teachers get there pay ? taxpayers should vote down the renewal in feb

Misty & Jeff -- where do you guys get your information! The renewal will be on the November 2012 ballot! Because of how Ohio schools are funded aren’t school districts pretty much obligated to keep trying to pass levies? The state continues to push program costs back onto local school districts. Some of those costs have been offset by nearly 8 million dollars in cuts, employee reductions, and things like pay to play. The 6.5 million from the new levy only keeps the district afloat. Remember each year inflation take a percentage of that money. Each year operating costs rise. I don’t think Dr. Jones or Catherine Bulgrin are overpaid. I suggest doing a little research and I think you will find other smaller districts pay more! In addition I am very confident you would find the average CEO and CFO for a $55 million dollar business with 600 employees, 13 buildings etc etc will be making substantially more!! In addition – in the last 5 years the current administration and the school board have -- in my opinion – corrected many of wrongs we endured under the previous board. One last personal thought – I wouldn’t blame the treasurer or the superintendent for looking elsewhere. These people have contracts and seem to be committed to full filling their obligations. I think they have done a good job and I think it would be foolish to even consider buying out their contracts.

MIKE,you keep referring to the 8 million in cuts ,from all the people on this sight and at the meetings ask questions about them .MY question is the paper work on the cut like .who was cut , unemployment records, or any paper trail of any ofthis?i know it was on the sos but anybody can just write things down and say isaved this amount.is there any paper trail?Well nordonia school is looking for a superitendant lets see how long it take for jones toput his resume in ? like he did for independance schools .and yes i have a job .i think taxpayers should vote down all renwals for thenext 10 years.if any come up

@ Mike Barnes: The point is, there is going to be another levy on the ballot next year, so you better believe we'll keep talking about it. Interesting that you mentioned Bulgrin. Wasn't she hired for something like 20 grand more than her predecessor? ....and at a time of great fiscal crisis. Then there's the IB program that a lot of parents didn't want. But Dr. Dolittle must have his way, and he wants IB. These are the kind of things that make taxpayers furious. It was no accident that two incumbents were voted off the school board. The Bulgrin brouhaha went a good way towards helping them get the boot.

The point you make about the salary of a CEO of a $55M company, kind of answers itself. Schools aren't a $55, business bringing in money, but they cost a fortune, The administrators aren't going to be paid anywhere near what a for profit company would be pay. Having said that, a six figure salary, with bonus and a very lucrative benefits package is a darn good job in this economy. I wouldn't want buy out Russ' contract, I'd like to see him leave of his own accord, as he already tried to do.

Misty & Jeff -- about 10% of voters will vote for a school levy just because it is for the schools. Ten percent of voters will vote against a school levy because they can! Another 10% will vote for or against it for personal reasons --- bad experience - vendetta whatever. Ten percent will vote yes or no because they aren't sure and one or the other appears first on the ballot. That leaves about half that require some type of re-enforcement to vote Yes or No. The answers you seek are available but at some point don't you need to be willing to believe the results? My gut feeling is both of you are in the second 10% -- which is a shame because you both seem passionate about the issue and the energy you waste on viewing the world through your backside could used doing something positive!!

Another thing Mike, what you and everyone else who is so pro-levy should realize is that it is in your best interest and the best interest of the over-all health of the City of Stow that those of us who are struggling stay solvent. If people lose their homes, or can't pay their taxes, no amount of levy approval is going to keep the schools on track. Houses sold at Sheriff's auctions and though bank foreclosure do tremendous damage to property values. This week of the four homes sold in Stow (as reported by the Stow Sentry), one was sold through Sheriff's sale, and the other a bank. This nearly 50-50 trend between private sellers and foreclosures has been going on for some time. Doesn't bode will for Stow. Killing homeowners with backbreaking taxes is going to backfire. We are near or at the tipping point.

Misty -- look -- its OK. The take away is you can either be part of a real solution or you can be part of the problem! Criticism without a willingness to sponsor action which can change the real issue (state funding for schools) is really nothing more than intellectual masturbation. It may be fun and safe to sit in front of a computer and bang out what many seem to think are whinny, wallowing in self pity type comments. I guess what I am saying is rather than bash the people who believe in the monetary needs of our schools and those who run them – why not start a letter writing campaign to our state reps. Why not suggest they find a District Judge who would issue bench warrants for our legislators hauling their backsides into court to explain why they have not enacted a funding plan as outlined in the DeRolph case before the Ohio Supreme Court in 1997. Why not get involved to solve the real problem? I and others have written letters – do you want to join us in writing to the people we elected to represent us or would you rather look at the world ………….. well you know!

Misty -- Times are tough for most of us and tougher for some as well – those people fall in the 10% who vote NO for personal reasons. The voting model I described is well known in one form or another. I would like to claim credit for it and the 80/20 rule which also applies here --- 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people!!! My personal favorite relates to volunteers – The most organized person with the least amount of free time will find the time to help with projects they feel are worthy and important. I am OK with looking bad to people with a negative view. Take care & do us all a favor and write some letters to the people who can make some real changes to get the Ohio school funding train wreck back on track

Misty -- I really hope it all works out for you.