Gibbs corrects finance reports after accusation

Aug. 31, 2010, Coshocton Tribune

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

The campaign of 18th Congressional District candidate Bob Gibbs filed an amended campaign finance report Monday morning, shortly after his opponent accused him of accepting illegal contributions.

Gibbs, a Republican state senator from Lakeville, misreported some contributions for his primary campaign as general election donations, said campaign spokeswoman Emily Pettigrew.

Federal Election Commission rules allow candidates to accept $2,400 from each individual donor for each election, the primary and the general.

Schools’perk pads pensions

Sept. 26, 2010, Mansfield News Journal

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

MANSFIELD — Many public school administrators pay nothing toward their own pensions. But the perk doesn’t stop there.

A lucrative deal allows 84 percent of Ohio superintendents to retire with a higher pension than they otherwise would have earned — all at additional taxpayer expense, according to an analysis of public records by CentralOhio.com and the News Journal.

About half of Ohio districts also give this benefit to other certified administrators, although it’s far less common for other school employees — only 29 of Ohio’s 613 school districts statewide give the perk to teachers or classified staff. Four of those districts are in the Mansfield area.

The practice is officially called “pickup-on-the-pickup.” School districts pay the employee share of the individuals’ retirement contribution, and then consider it extra salary for pension purposes at a total cost of 26.4 percent of the employee’s salary.

Only 14 percent of that cost is mandatory. While practiced widely at many schools, this method has received virtually no attention on the state level. Many close to the public pension system process are unfamiliar with the practice, and apparently has never been the focus of statewide legislation.

It is only offered in the pension funds for school employees. Ohio’s other three retirement decline to participate.

School budgets face uncertain future

Aug. 22, 2010, Fremont News-Messenger

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to the News-Messenger

Like many educators across the state, those at Elgin Local Schools are returning to school with a certain uneasiness.

The district barely averted layoffs this year, and officials do not know what kinds of cuts the state will make to education in the next two years or how local revenue might change.

“It’s really scary,” Superintendent Bruce Gast said. “This district has been through so many cuts. We’re being as cautious as we can, and then more cautious. ... All our employees understand there is uncertainty.”

By October, every school treasurer must submit a five-year forecast to the Ohio Department of Education, estimating revenues and expenditures through 2015. While they submit only one plan, the education department advises districts to plan for three scenarios — steady, bad and catastrophic.

Many treasurers contend they might as well use a Magic 8 Ball to answer the following questions when compiling their forecasts:

Bill could save 5,000 education jobs for Ohio

Aug. 6, 2010, Coshocton Tribune

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

A $26 billion federal spending bill could mean 5,000 education jobs would be saved or created in Ohio, according to government figures.

The U.S. Senate approved legislation Thursday that provides $10 billion for education and $16 billion to increase the federal contribution for Medicaid, providing a cushion for state governments. The House is expected to take up the measure in a special session next week.

“Yesterday was a hallelujah day,” said Patricia Frost-Brooks, president of the Ohio Education Association. “I was holding my breath.”