Or neither?

Will the approximately $3-million in school spending reductions expected to be announced on Monday be enough, or should the Worthington Board of Education sharpen its pencils and cut more expenses before returning to the ballot?

The school board will grapple with those and other questions concerning a possible November levy when it meets on Monday, and again when it opens the floor to the public next Thursday.

Both meetings are set for 7:30 p.m. at the Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road.

On Wednesday, the public is invited to discuss the issues during a non-board sponsored forum at the Griswold Center, 777 High St., beginning at 7 p.m.

At a special 7:30 a.m. meeting this past Monday, the board set the stage for a possible income tax levy by asking the state to confirm the size of four potential income tax levies.

One is expected to be 0.5 percent, and would raise approximately $7.3-million a year, enough to make the district's books balance for three years. At the end of the three years, the income tax increase would continue, but the district would probably need to return to the voters for more money.

A second would increase income taxes by 0.75 percent to raise approximately $10.4-million, or enough to keep the district afloat for four years.

The resolutions approved Monday would certify the size needed if all income were taxed, or if only earned income were taxed, excluding pensions and interest on stocks, bonds and savings.

The district is returning to the ballot after voters rejected a 6.25-mill combination operating/permanent improvements levy in May.

The 1.25-mill portion would have covered capital needs totaling $11.4-million.

At a recent board meeting, administrators presented a comprehensive capital needs list and came up with a figure of approximately $30-million. They indicated that they expected the board to pare down the list.

How those needs for new buses, computers and building repairs will be presented to voters is another question to be tackled by the school board by its Aug. 14 meeting.

The operating needs, according to a Jan. 25 five-year financial forecast, is for enough additional money to offset a $6-million deficit projected for the end of the 2007-08 fiscal year.

Superintendent Melissa Conrath has so far made $1.1-million in budget reductions to go into effect this coming school year. On Monday, she is expected to announce approximately $2-million of additional cuts for the following year.

According to treasurer Jonathan Boyd's "what if" calculations, a permanent levy to keep the district afloat for three years would need to be 4.81 mills; for four years, 6.34 mills.

The immediate cuts include approximately 14 full-time-equivalent positions. Conrath said the "body count" would be nine, all of them covered by attrition.

Reductions include 10 percent departmental reductions ($258,000); 15 percent building reductions ($175,579); reconfiguration of duties for secondary education director ($141,148); elimination of three high school secretaries ($156,886); middle school reductions ($72,000); reduction of physical education teacher at the United Methodist Children's Home (UMCH) campus ($66,000); elimination of 1.5 special education assistant positions ($54,050); high school reductions ($36,000); extended day reductions ($33,423); summer school becomes self-supporting ($33,200); elimination of one building instructional assistant ($27,116); reduction of special education assistant at UMCH campus ($25,940); band and orchestra ($23,000); food at staff development meetings ($5,000); superintendent's raffle at annual convocation ($4,000).

cbrooks@thisweeknews.com