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Budget crisis pulls millions from schools By Becky Shapiro Gov. Bob Taft cut UA's education funding by 2.5 percent, resulting in a $92,594 loss, according to the Ohio Department of Education. Taft said he cut funding because Ohio General Assembly's budget plan did not balance the budget. "I take no pleasure in making these painful budget reductions," Taft said at a Statehouse news conference. "I know full well that connected to each of these programs are real faces, real stories and real Ohioans whose lives will be adversely affected." Local school district treasurer Marvin Founds said the recent reduction adds to numerous other cuts throughout the year, but will not take effect immediately. Administrators plan to keep school budgets frozen and assess services for reduction. "With other reductions over the past year, a culmination of the losses is over $750,000," he said. "We will look at next year's budget, consider reductions and address them as needed." Principal Kip Greenhill said he does not know how the cuts will affect the high school. "We are fortunate that we passed a levy for the school in 2001," Greenhill said. "A lot of surrounding districts need [more money than UA schools do]." Funds taken from education were second highest in the Columbus area; Cleveland area schools received the highest total cuts, according to a March 6 Columbus Dispatch article. Founds said he and other administrators are "unhappy this had to occur." Junior Ashley Brooks said she does not think money should have been from cut from Ohio schools. "[Politicians] go on and on about how schools are lacking funds," she said. "Then they cut the funding needed to improve."
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