| Why do Middletown Schools need to ask for levies now? |
| Wednesday, March 7, 2007 3:11:32 PM - Middletown Ohio |
last updated on Saturday, March 3, 2007
Source: Middletown School Website |
You will find more answers at upcoming Community Forums. Each sessions will feature a short presentation by District Treasurer Eric Sotzing and Superintendent Steve Price, and will allow time for questions and answers:
Tuesday, March 20, 6:30 P.M. at Middletown High School
Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 P.M. at Rosa Parks Elementary School
Thursday, March 22, 6:30 P.M. at Highview Elementary School
A simple answer is because school revenues are fixed or declining, while the cost of education continually rises. Many of these costs are out of the control of the local board and administration.
Schools have "fixed" income...
Middletown Schools have chosen to ask the community for "emergency levies", which ask for a fixed dollar amount of revenue that stays the same every year the tax is collected; no increase. Property values rise over time, but Middletown Schools receive the same amount of income from a levy every year, no matter how long ago the levy was passed.
In recent years, state funding to offset local taxes has declined. And, the state changed the way business property taxes are collected, so MCSD has lost some local funding as well.
...but inflation and demands on schools increase every year.
The Middletown City School District, like all districts, faces inflation, state and federal unfunded mandates, and an increasing level of services expected by residents. Here are just a few:
-Special education services must be provided for all children in the district who qualify under state and federal guidelines, regardless of cost. This can cost up to $66,000+ per child.
-State regulations dictate that districts must employ at least one classroom teacher for every 24 pupils grades K-4.
-Most of the budget, as for any school district, is for staff who are responsible for the education, transportation, and safety of Middletown children. Attracting and keeping good people is a prioirty, and accomplishing this with limited resources is a challenge.
-Middletown residents have told us they expect us to keep providing non-required programs like AP and honors courses, the GATE program, the Alternative Academy, sports, performing arts, and others.
Middletown School voted tax history
Middletown residents have voted to increase local taxes for schools 7 times in the last 40 years:
-5 for operating costs like salaries and utilities
-1 legally restricted to building maintenance and equipment
-1 legally restricted to new buildings
The operating issues have been renewed throughout the time shown but the district continued to receive the same dollar amount in revenue as on the day the issue passed.
Financial crisis in 2005
In 2005, ten years with no increase in locally voted funding, the schools faced a serious financial crisis. A community-led finance committee studied the problem and made the following three recommendations to the Board of Education:
1. That the district make an additional $2 million in cuts in addition to the $7.5 million in annual expenses that had already been cut.
2. That, in May 2005, the district place a combined issue on the ballot to renew the 1980 emergency issue and add 7.1 mills.
3. That, when the 1995 emergency issue expires in 2007, the Board seek to renew that issue and add millage.
The Board accepted this plan. They cut more out of the budget. In May 2005, the community supported the renew/addition levy, averting the financial crisis and deep cuts to education.
2007: Completing the Plan
The financial plan recommended by the communityled committee was in keeping with the district's philosophy of "on-time" revenue. Rather than asking voters in 2005 to approve a more expensive issue to last a longer period of time, the committee recommended that the Board ask only for enough to last until the 1995 emergency issue came up for renewal in 2007. This May, the Board will seek community support for the third piece of the committee's recommendations to assure fiscal stability for the Middletown Schools.
In May, this $4 million renewal and $3 million addition is on the ballot to complete the financial
plan aimed at the stabilizing the district and continuing academic progress. It means $7 million to Middletown Schools (only $3 million is new funding). This issue will cost a resident about $10.00 a month more per $100,000 of home value.
If we don't pass this issue, we will have to cut $7 million out of the annual budget. The following is an example of what $7 million means to the Middletown Schools' annual budget, not a list of cuts. $7 million is equivalent to:
+80 staff members;
+More than 3,000 textbooks;
+$85 per student for classroom supplies, equipment, and services;
+All high school busing; and,
+All extracurricular activities.
Specific cuts will be announced at the March 12 Board of Education Meeting.
For more information, please contact Debbie Alberico 423-0781 or dalberico@middletowncityschools.com
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