August 17, 2025 • 9 mins
Mindy speaks with Doug about Westerville School levy concerns!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
All right, everybody, welcome back on a sunny Sunday six' TEN,
wtvn and the show is raw and we are going
to talk rawley right. Now if that's a, WORD i
just created, It so we're going with it because we
are going to talk about things that really matter to
you and things that you get sick and tired of
as a. Taxpayer how many times do you get frustrated
when you see in your own, city your own, community
(00:25):
another school levy put back on the ballot and you
feel like, yourself my, gosh didn't we just see, this
didn't we just do? This and now they're asking for more?
Money is the money? Warranted is it validated in many?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Cases? Absolutely one hundred.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Percent schools in so many different communities need a lot of,
Help they need a lot of, work but not in
every single. Community when you keep throwing it out and
forking out money and more money and more, money and
if you feel like you don't have a voice in your,
community maybe you have to create that. Voice joining us
now Is Doug krinsky with the Group Westerville Levy. Concerns
(00:59):
basically it is what it, Is. Doug you created a
group of people just like, yourself because you really wanted
to investigate the school system in the city Of westerville
if it's wasting, money is that?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Right that's spot. On that's exactly WHY i jumped.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
In and you've been doing this for how?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Long, well my kids started in The Westerville public schools
of a thirty years. Ago So i'm just one of
those guys THAT i like to pay attention to what
the school district's, doing like what the city is. DOING
i have to live, in you, know a township, now
BUT i like to pay attention to where my tax
dollars are. Going so it's been over thirty Years i've
been keeping an eye on.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Things so In, westerville the city school board asked voters
to pass a levy on this last.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Election, correct, yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Last, november we defeated their property tax, Levy, yes.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Okay and what were they asking? For do you think
it was just out of? Line like why are you opposing?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
This, well for a couple of. Reasons they were asking
for almost twenty one million dollars in additional property tax.
Funding when when you look at their five year projection
back a year ago and even to, today what's happened
is enrollment continues to go, down And i'll give you an.
Example in twenty, nineteen there were fifteen, thousand three hundred
(02:16):
and eighty five kids in the. District as of last,
year there were fourteen, thousand six hundred and. Twenty so
as enrollment has, dropped what they have done is raise
the expense ratio per. Student is what's happening is in
twenty twenty, two you, know they spent one hundred and
eighty five million. Dollars just last year they spent two
(02:37):
hundred and thirty six million dollars with reduced enrollment and
test grades that have literally never been lower in the
district THAT i can. Remember so what's happening is they're
raising expenses. THERE i don't know where they're spending all this,
money but there's less students in the. District really over
the past ten, years it continues to, dwindle and yet
(02:57):
they spend more and more and. More just last year,
alone they added over thirty million dollars to their, expenses
Which i'm still trying to figure out why and where
they spend all that. Money but, yeah it's just getting
way out of.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Hand but don't those things have to be?
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Documented if a distart is going to spend certain amount
of money on, Something doesn't that have to be proven
to the, taxpayers because don't taxpayers have a right to
know where their money's.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
GOING i think they absolutely. Do i'll give you another.
Example so when we ended up defeating the levee Last,
november they were talking, about you, know trying to add
this twenty one million dollars you, know in, revenue and they,
said going into. It AND i went to, many many
many board meetings as they, know you, know AND i
asked them to already make the cuts and do the
(03:42):
things they needed to. Do and they're, like there's no
cuts we can. Make there's nobody, retiring we have to replace.
Everybody there's just no way to save any. Money lo and.
Behold Come, december a month after the levee was, defeated
they found five million dollars worth a cost saving the
national three million dollars and long term. Savings so they're
(04:03):
spending money in areas they should not be spending. Money
it's not my job to go through a line item
by line item where they're wasting, money but it's obvious
there's plenty of slush money. There whether they are layering
and extra teachers to get ratios down or what they're.
DOING i don't. Know ALL i know is when you
add over thirty million dollars in one, year when enrollment goes,
(04:24):
down there's no justification for another. Penny.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
BOY i bet the district just loves, You. Doug but
you know, what you speak for so many people when
it comes to taxpayers, money and thank goodness you're doing
the research and thank goodness you're looking all this stuff
up for. People the thing, is you've got to get
the word out BECAUSE i think a lot of people
see that levee on a ballot and they almost feel
guilty if they have kids in the, district because they, think,
(04:50):
well we have to vote yes for this because our
kids are going to suffer if we.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Don't, WELL i can tell you, This i've been sort
of fighting levies for i'll be twenty five years and
it's all strictly because there's no justification for the additional
revenue they're asking. For and you, know as another example of,
them after the levee was, defeated they talked about we
want to listen to the, public we want their, feedback
(05:15):
so you, know actions to me speak louder than. Words
so what do they. Do they immediately go from five
minute comments at the board meeting to three minute comments
for anybody in the public that wants to. Speak they
eliminate the second opportunities to speak at a board. Meeting
you can only speak one time at the beginning of the.
Meeting you can't speak a second. Time they have pulled
all the ability to be able to comment on Their
(05:36):
facebook page and on their. Website oh my, GOSH i had.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
ONE i, wow that is.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Ridiculous and listen if there's anyone from the Westernal City
School district that would like to call in and tell
us why people should vote for this, levee BECAUSE i
believe this time, Around, doug they're asking for more money
than they asked back In.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
November, yeah so, again here's the crazy part about. It
so last time it was a little under twenty one
million they wanted in property. Taxes now they're coming back
as an income tax and they're asking for twenty four.
Million so it doesn't make any sense to. Me if
they needed twenty million approximately last, time they found literally
(06:19):
eight million in some sort of, savings so that would
have reduced it to about twelve, million yet they're coming
back asking for twenty four million. Dollars it just makes
no sense to me at. All, plus in the new
budget that just came out from the State, house they're
picking up almost sex six hundred and fifty thousand dollars
(06:39):
additional funding from the state they weren't getting. Before so it's,
like you are getting some extra, money, GRANTED i know
you want. More what do they want? Before is?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
This is this a bond? Issue are they going to
build another? Building is this more for operating?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Levies now it's strictly operating. Funds so what's happening now
is they used to have positive. Revenue if you look
back at twenty twenty five on their five year, projection
they were in the. Positive they were actually saving money every.
Year so if you look at twenty twenty two on
their five year, projection they, actually you, know spent one
(07:16):
hundred and eighty five, million took in two hundred and one,
million so they put in the bank fifteen million. Dollars
but three years, later you, know now they're looking at
eighteen nineteen million dollars worth a deficit. Spending so what
they've done is they've invested in all these, people, personnel
computer program software program some now some for the, future
(07:37):
and they're, saying, oh now that we spent, it you
have to pay for. It, well back in twenty nineteen
when they passed the last, levee their justification, was, oh
we're going to have all this increased enrollment in this additional,
expense we're going to have to absorb a loon and,
behold the enrollment is what has eight hundred kids. Left
their revenue is way, Up so what they're doing is
(07:58):
spending money where they don't need to spend, it and
they are getting some additional funds from the. State.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Doug we're up against two.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Point seven million on a reevaluation of real estate. Properties
we're up against bring in.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Revenue we got to. Go we're up against a. Break
but you are a champion for the.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
TAXPAYER i wish every community had someone like you in
that to do the research and to make a voice
and to creative voice for people who keep throwing out
more and more. Money if someone wants more information on,
this is there a website or something they can go.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
To we can point them in the right.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Direction, yeah the easiest way is Our facebook. Page, Westerville
Levy concerns and you can email me if you want
to get. Involved It's Westerville Levy concerns at gmail dot.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Com all, Right Doug, krinsky thanks for the, time and
we're going to we're going to stay in contact because
this is an issue that's not going away anytime. Soon
thanks for your effort in. This it means a lot
to the taxpayers of the city Of westerville for. Sure all,
Right next, up we're going to take a. Break we
have the next hour and we're dedicating it to back
to school stuff with Doctor cohen and. Company we're just
(08:59):
going to leave it like, that find out what we're
talking to on the other side of the.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Break we're back in a. Moment
All right, everybody, welcome back on a sunny Sunday six' TEN,
wtvn and the show is raw and we are going
to talk rawley right. Now if that's a, WORD i
just created, It so we're going with it because we
are going to talk about things that really matter to
you and things that you get sick and tired of
as a. Taxpayer how many times do you get frustrated
when you see in your own, city your own, community
(00:25):
another school levy put back on the ballot and you
feel like, yourself my, gosh didn't we just see, this
didn't we just do? This and now they're asking for more?
Money is the money? Warranted is it validated in many?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Cases? Absolutely one hundred.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Percent schools in so many different communities need a lot of,
Help they need a lot of, work but not in
every single. Community when you keep throwing it out and
forking out money and more money and more, money and
if you feel like you don't have a voice in your,
community maybe you have to create that. Voice joining us
now Is Doug krinsky with the Group Westerville Levy. Concerns
(00:59):
basically it is what it, Is. Doug you created a
group of people just like, yourself because you really wanted
to investigate the school system in the city Of westerville
if it's wasting, money is that?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Right that's spot. On that's exactly WHY i jumped.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
In and you've been doing this for how?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Long, well my kids started in The Westerville public schools
of a thirty years. Ago So i'm just one of
those guys THAT i like to pay attention to what
the school district's, doing like what the city is. DOING
i have to live, in you, know a township, now
BUT i like to pay attention to where my tax
dollars are. Going so it's been over thirty Years i've
been keeping an eye on.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Things so In, westerville the city school board asked voters
to pass a levy on this last.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Election, correct, yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Last, november we defeated their property tax, Levy, yes.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Okay and what were they asking? For do you think
it was just out of? Line like why are you opposing?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
This, well for a couple of. Reasons they were asking
for almost twenty one million dollars in additional property tax.
Funding when when you look at their five year projection
back a year ago and even to, today what's happened
is enrollment continues to go, down And i'll give you an.
Example in twenty, nineteen there were fifteen, thousand three hundred
(02:16):
and eighty five kids in the. District as of last,
year there were fourteen, thousand six hundred and. Twenty so
as enrollment has, dropped what they have done is raise
the expense ratio per. Student is what's happening is in
twenty twenty, two you, know they spent one hundred and
eighty five million. Dollars just last year they spent two
(02:37):
hundred and thirty six million dollars with reduced enrollment and
test grades that have literally never been lower in the
district THAT i can. Remember so what's happening is they're
raising expenses. THERE i don't know where they're spending all this,
money but there's less students in the. District really over
the past ten, years it continues to, dwindle and yet
(02:57):
they spend more and more and. More just last year,
alone they added over thirty million dollars to their, expenses
Which i'm still trying to figure out why and where
they spend all that. Money but, yeah it's just getting
way out of.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Hand but don't those things have to be?
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Documented if a distart is going to spend certain amount
of money on, Something doesn't that have to be proven
to the, taxpayers because don't taxpayers have a right to
know where their money's.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
GOING i think they absolutely. Do i'll give you another.
Example so when we ended up defeating the levee Last,
november they were talking, about you, know trying to add
this twenty one million dollars you, know in, revenue and they,
said going into. It AND i went to, many many
many board meetings as they, know you, know AND i
asked them to already make the cuts and do the
(03:42):
things they needed to. Do and they're, like there's no
cuts we can. Make there's nobody, retiring we have to replace.
Everybody there's just no way to save any. Money lo and.
Behold Come, december a month after the levee was, defeated
they found five million dollars worth a cost saving the
national three million dollars and long term. Savings so they're
(04:03):
spending money in areas they should not be spending. Money
it's not my job to go through a line item
by line item where they're wasting, money but it's obvious
there's plenty of slush money. There whether they are layering
and extra teachers to get ratios down or what they're.
DOING i don't. Know ALL i know is when you
add over thirty million dollars in one, year when enrollment goes,
(04:24):
down there's no justification for another. Penny.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
BOY i bet the district just loves, You. Doug but
you know, what you speak for so many people when
it comes to taxpayers, money and thank goodness you're doing
the research and thank goodness you're looking all this stuff
up for. People the thing, is you've got to get
the word out BECAUSE i think a lot of people
see that levee on a ballot and they almost feel
guilty if they have kids in the, district because they, think,
(04:50):
well we have to vote yes for this because our
kids are going to suffer if we.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Don't, WELL i can tell you, This i've been sort
of fighting levies for i'll be twenty five years and
it's all strictly because there's no justification for the additional
revenue they're asking. For and you, know as another example of,
them after the levee was, defeated they talked about we
want to listen to the, public we want their, feedback
(05:15):
so you, know actions to me speak louder than. Words
so what do they. Do they immediately go from five
minute comments at the board meeting to three minute comments
for anybody in the public that wants to. Speak they
eliminate the second opportunities to speak at a board. Meeting
you can only speak one time at the beginning of the.
Meeting you can't speak a second. Time they have pulled
all the ability to be able to comment on Their
(05:36):
facebook page and on their. Website oh my, GOSH i had.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
ONE i, wow that is.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Ridiculous and listen if there's anyone from the Westernal City
School district that would like to call in and tell
us why people should vote for this, levee BECAUSE i
believe this time, Around, doug they're asking for more money
than they asked back In.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
November, yeah so, again here's the crazy part about. It
so last time it was a little under twenty one
million they wanted in property. Taxes now they're coming back
as an income tax and they're asking for twenty four.
Million so it doesn't make any sense to. Me if
they needed twenty million approximately last, time they found literally
(06:19):
eight million in some sort of, savings so that would
have reduced it to about twelve, million yet they're coming
back asking for twenty four million. Dollars it just makes
no sense to me at. All, plus in the new
budget that just came out from the State, house they're
picking up almost sex six hundred and fifty thousand dollars
(06:39):
additional funding from the state they weren't getting. Before so it's,
like you are getting some extra, money, GRANTED i know
you want. More what do they want? Before is?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
This is this a bond? Issue are they going to
build another? Building is this more for operating?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Levies now it's strictly operating. Funds so what's happening now
is they used to have positive. Revenue if you look
back at twenty twenty five on their five year, projection
they were in the. Positive they were actually saving money every.
Year so if you look at twenty twenty two on
their five year, projection they, actually you, know spent one
(07:16):
hundred and eighty five, million took in two hundred and one,
million so they put in the bank fifteen million. Dollars
but three years, later you, know now they're looking at
eighteen nineteen million dollars worth a deficit. Spending so what
they've done is they've invested in all these, people, personnel
computer program software program some now some for the, future
(07:37):
and they're, saying, oh now that we spent, it you
have to pay for. It, well back in twenty nineteen
when they passed the last, levee their justification, was, oh
we're going to have all this increased enrollment in this additional,
expense we're going to have to absorb a loon and,
behold the enrollment is what has eight hundred kids. Left
their revenue is way, Up so what they're doing is
(07:58):
spending money where they don't need to spend, it and
they are getting some additional funds from the. State.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Doug we're up against two.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Point seven million on a reevaluation of real estate. Properties
we're up against bring in.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Revenue we got to. Go we're up against a. Break
but you are a champion for the.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
TAXPAYER i wish every community had someone like you in
that to do the research and to make a voice
and to creative voice for people who keep throwing out
more and more. Money if someone wants more information on,
this is there a website or something they can go.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
To we can point them in the right.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Direction, yeah the easiest way is Our facebook. Page, Westerville
Levy concerns and you can email me if you want
to get. Involved It's Westerville Levy concerns at gmail dot.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Com all, Right Doug, krinsky thanks for the, time and
we're going to we're going to stay in contact because
this is an issue that's not going away anytime. Soon
thanks for your effort in. This it means a lot
to the taxpayers of the city Of westerville for. Sure all,
Right next, up we're going to take a. Break we
have the next hour and we're dedicating it to back
to school stuff with Doctor cohen and. Company we're just
(08:59):
going to leave it like, that find out what we're
talking to on the other side of the.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Break we're back in a. Moment
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