To the editor,
We would like to know how $60 million in deferred maintenance to the Perrysburg schools has accumulated. This amount is outrageous!
This community has supported the levies for permanent improvements for many years. The community deserves an accounting of how the money was spent. Why have so many Band-Aids been put on a boiler system when it might have been more cost effective to purchase a new system years ago? If permanent improvement money was used to make additions to the elementary schools one at a time every few years instead of waiting until all the schools needed additions, wouldn’t this be more cost effective? Wouldn’t it make more sense to make repairs when needed instead of waiting until the cost is much higher and is an “emergency?”
It’s time for the Perrysburg school administration to assess what non-teaching cuts can be made. How can money be saved?
Senior citizens have two choices, move to a less expensive community away from family and friends or pay the taxes and hope they are able to survive on remaining funds. In a newspaper article on Dec. 28, 2023, a suggestion was made to give senior citizens an additional break on real estate taxes in addition to households with the homestead exemption. Sue Larimer’s reaction to this was “Is there a … I can’t even find words, it’s so shocking to me … is there a logical reason why they would take that money from us?” She also stated, “This seems so ridiculously circular to me, that they could be that blind, deaf and dumb and not realize what’s going on with funding in public schools.”
(Editor’s note: Larimer, a school board member, was talking about possible impacts of House Bill 187.)
Perhaps the average person doesn’t realize what is involved in public school funding. More transparency would be helpful. Ms. Larimer, remember, this is taxpayers’ money, not the school systems.
In March, Perrysburg schools are asking for a 36 year, 3.50-mill levy to raise $88 million which is 41% less than the levy voted down in November. This will give Perrysburg a new elementary school ad pay for ALL of the deferred maintenance needed, is this correct? What about the suggestion of building two elementary schools at a lesser cost of $69 million? Wouldn’t it make more sense to build new? In the Sentinel-Tribune, Dec. 20, 2023, it sounded like more members of the school board were in favor of this idea.
Ray and Sharon Ruswinkle
Perrysburg
