Rising property tax delinquencies and fewer dollars from federal programs have more than offset spending cuts the Gibsonburg school board implemented last summer.

Superintendent Tom Peiffer reports in the district newsletter, The Bear Facts, that the district has spent $337,292 less as of Jan. 31 this year compared to Jan. 31, 2008.

“Our $350,000 of cuts this summer seem to be doing the job in terms of revenue spent,” he writes. “That is the good news, so you know what has to follow, the not-so-good news. Even though we’ve spent significantly less than last year, our cash balance has shrunk by $63,947 to a carry-over balance of $2,490, 607.”

The district ended the last fiscal year on June 30 with a carryover of $2.8 million in its general fund, according to Mr. Peiffer, and hopes to end the current fiscal year with a balance of about $2.6 million.

But in a district that relies on state revenues for about 70 percent of its budget, the cuts looming in Columbus could be significant.

“As an example, a cut of 10 percent from our state foundation would cost our district some $550,000 in funding, a scary thought when you consider our total budget is some eight million dollars,” Mr. Peiffer writes.

Road issues
The Lake Township trustees turned their attention to roads Tuesday, approving a resolution to ask for studies of the speed limit on Emch Road and that it be reduced to 25 miles per hour from 55.

The board of trustees is asking the Wood County Engineer’s office and the Ohio Department of Transportation to conduct the studies.

Mark Hummer, township police chief, and Dan McLargin, road supervisor, have recommended the reduction in the speed limit and the resolution says residents along the road have requested the limit be lowered.

“It’s a pretty short road and 55 miles an hour is way out of line for that,” said Richard Welling, a trustee.

The trustees have received word from the county engineer that load limit signs will be posted at four bridges in the township. Limits will be posted for bridges on: Hanely (20 ton); Latcha (9 ton); Owen (13 ton), and Tracy (5 ton) roads.

The trustees also will ask ODOT to place “wrong way” signs along the westbound lane of State Route 795 east of Tracy to alert drivers leaving businesses not to turn left onto the lane.

Ron Sims, a trustee, said there have been instances of truck drivers exiting the businesses and turning left into the wrong lane of the divided route.

Special meeting
There will be a special meeting of the Benton-Carroll-Salem Board of Education March 10 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the board office at 11685 W. SR 163, Oak Harbor.

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