BROOKFIELD — If the proposed 1 percent income tax levy on the November ballot fails, Brookfield Local School District will face state-mandated fiscal measures which in an absolute “worst-case scenario” could include a recommendation to dissolve the district, said Superintendent Tim Saxton.

Speaking to a crowd at Tuesday’s monthly board meeting Saxton and Treasurer David Drawl said Brookfield is facing a deficit that has the district under a Ohio Department of Education “fiscal watch.” Without the anticipated $1.4 million annually the levy would generate, the district will soon fall under a “fiscal emergency” which could allow for a state takeover of the district, Drawl said.

Drawl and Saxton met in September with a fiscal director from the state Department of Education.

“If the levy fails and we get into a situation where we cannot create a positive fund balance or show movement in that direction, then the state can appoint an oversight committee which would have the ability to override board decisions and district contracts,” Saxton said. With an oversight committee there would likely be one representative from the district.

School Director Kelly Bionic asked Saxton to outline what could happen without the extra income.

She said as a member of the levy committee she isn’t sure what areas could be open to cutting, since the district has already taken all the austerity measures it can.

“And with the state’s rule that funding follows the students, I’m concerned we could see a hemorrhaging of students from the district. It’s going to be a survival of the fittest. We might see consolidation. I’m afraid of where we are headed,” she said.

“We already borrowed a half-million to shore up this year. What’s our plan?” she said.

Saxton said the deficit is not “an expenditure issue, but a revenue issue” and suggested there could be further cuts to any programs that are not state mandates.

“We may have to eliminate extra-curricular programs or institute a pay-to-play policy. Full-day kindergarten is not mandated. Neither is offering two foreign languages. That’s another elective we would have to cut. It would mean larger class sizes. Transportation could be limited to a two-mile radius,” Saxton said.

He described to the board a scenario occurring in Liberty, where the district is $1.3 million in debt and there has been some talk of dissolving the district.

Saxton was quick to say that while it remains an option under a state takeover it has “never happened” as far as he knows.

 In earlier public presentations Drawl said the district is about $449,000 short for this year, expects to be about $500,000 short next year and unless revenue increases, expects to be $2.9 million in the red in four years.

Director Ronald Brennan said he was disappointed with the wording of a flier distributed to residents regarding the designation of a fiscal “emergency.”

Brennan said it isn’t an absolute certainty that would occur. “I don’t like misinformation out there in the community.”

Brennan also asked about anticipated savings from increased efficiency now that all students are under one roof. “Where’s the money that we don’t have to spend on maintenance from the other buildings? How much are we making from the oil and gas leases? I want to know where every penny is on the table.”

He also said he did an analysis of the employees and found that fewer than half are Brookfield residents. “I’m just saying I think that’s something we ought to consider if we are asking people to pay this tax. That’s the kind of stuff that bothers me.”

Director Gwen Martino looked at the students in the audience and said “my heart is breaking because it’s all about you kids. We had a district we could be really proud of and you’re getting cheated. We did it this way because we thought it was fair. Everyone pays instead of just those who own property. This is vital. Go out and talk to people and tell them you need a good education.”

A 1 percent income tax levy, valid for five years, will net the district about $1.4 million annually.

Saxton has said that a family earning $23,000 annually will pay about 63 cents a day with this tax. There are 9,000 Brookfield Township residents and 1,185 students in the school district.