3. Why is a school levy needed?
Ohio funds its schools by state support and local levies.
All school districts in Ohio periodically need local levies.
Six (6) of the fifty (50) states utilize local levies to fund
schools.
4. Why is a school levy needed?
Ohio in the past ten years has had approximately
4,400 school levies…that’s an average of 440 per
year.
There are 612 school districts in Ohio.
Suburban districts go for levies more often than
city/rural districts that receive more state support.
5. Why is a school levy needed?
In the 04-07-10 State PASS report, Ohio lists its state
share to support local public schools:
Poland 21.76%
Canfield 13.40%
Boardman 17.92%
Youngstown 86.05%
Springfield 52.57%
6. Why is a school levy needed?
Therefore, 100% - 21.76% = 78.24% local funding to
operate Poland schools.
Then HB920 freezes local income for schools at
amount of levy passage—even when home values
increase and new homes are built.
Poland’s last levy was in 2003. The community
promised it would last 5 years—through 2008.
8. Cuts since 2003
7 teachers not replaced since 2003 = $2,423,868 saved (inc.
salaries, retirement, and medical fringes)
Medical cuts in employee benefits
$180,000 by going from 6 plans to 1 plan in 2003 with
reduced benefits
$585,847 by going to new carrier 2005-08 through bidding
$229,033 by going to employee co-pay 2008-11 by sharing
costs on medical premium costs.
Capital outlay cut 2003-05 = $166,674
9. Cuts since 2003
Equipment cut $213,000 for 2005-06
$150,000 cut for 2009-10
$48,786 cut for 2009-10
$75,000 cut for 2010-11
Wage freeze 2003-04 resulted in cost savings of
$245,722.
Another wage freeze currently sought
Retirement incentives for 2007-10 resulted in savings
of $227,687 for retire-rehire and $176,043 for
retirement lump sum.
10. Cuts since 2003
Supplies cut 2003-09 over a 7 year period come to $112,367.
Supplies were cut for 2010 @ $107,477.
12. The TOTAL COST REDUCTIONS FOR 2003-10
$5,214,594
• While at the same time the district was being cut in state aid
each year. State aide cuts for 2009-10 versus 2005-06 alone
came to $444,689 and that’s just in one year.
• Cuts for 2011-12 are in process and will be even more
significant. All the cuts made since 2003 to avoid another levy
resulted in Poland’s spending below the county average,
below the state average, and below the national average.
14. During this time, state support was going
down:
FY 2005-06 state foundation $6,035,370
FY 2006-07 state foundation $5,993,657
FY 2007-08 state foundation $5,989,700
FY 2008-09 state foundation $5,797,439
FY 2009-10 state foundation $5,590,681
FY 2010-11 state foundation $5,437,789
15. How do Poland schools' operating taxes
compare to other area schools?
18. The average per pupil
expenditure in
Mahoning County is
$8,729.00.
Note, Poland’s
spending per pupil is
below the county,
state, and national
averages.
The Poland Local
School District is
proud of its cost
effectiveness!
20. What cuts are in effect now?
No new text books
No new equipment
No new library books
No new school buses
No teacher replacements unless absolutely necessary
No teacher professional development to upgrade
teaching skills
21. What cuts are in effect now?
At the end of the school year, cut all general fund tutors
unless required for special education students, and lay off
16 persons
Building repairs/maintenance cut
No after-school rentals for non-school groups
No new services and no new programs
Classroom materials/supplies cut
Wage freeze sought for all employees again in addition to
the last wage freeze 2003-04
23. What possible cuts are on the horizon?
Eliminate all high school busing
Reduce all busing for K-8 pupils to only those living
more than 2 miles from school
Layoff school bus drivers
Reduce electives at PSHS
Eliminate 3rd and 4th year foreign languages
Eliminate all-day kindergarten and layoff teachers
(Assumes Ohio rescinds all day kindergarten per bill
now pending in legislature).
24. What possible cuts are on the horizon?
Implement pay-to-play for all sports in grades 7-12 at
$200 per sport per pupil
Eliminate 1 foreign language at PSHS
Eliminate elementary guidance for K-4
Eliminate elementary music, art, and physical education
for K-4
Reduce secretarial staff
Eliminate senior citizen passes
25. What about the stadium?
How was it funded?
Phase IV, 2009 Construction
26. Item Estimate
PSHS new classrooms (two + hallway) $300,000
PMS lockers (replace all) 60,000
McKinley roof (replace 1st section) 70,000
Dobbins dry erase boards (replace all chalkboards) 40,000
Dobbins gym panels (replace) 45,000
Union Elementary windows (replace all) 300,000
PSHS stadium (one side + renovate locker bldg. 1,951,000
Union new kindergarten classrooms and district offices 50,000
Architect fees 78,000
Sub total $2,894,000
Contingency 106,000
Total $3,000,000
28. What projects were completed and how
paid?
Funds available ($3M) were insufficient to complete all projects.
McKinley roof was not done but was subsequently done a year
later outside Phase IV, and funds were insufficient to complete the
new parking lot on the west side of the stadium. This parking lot
(top finish coat) is still not done.
The Turf Club donated the new artificial turf at the stadium. The
relighting of the stadium was donated by Jeff Sabrin.
29. How was the $3M generated for Phase IV?
Phase IV @ $3M borrowed from Farmers’ Bank, 15 year note
@ 3.85% interest
Annual payment $262,459
Note to be paid annually by: $245,875 Energy savings
20,000 Coca Cola Co.
$265,875 Total
Note: 3 years of the 15 year note have been paid, 12 years remain
before paid off.
Note: documentation on energy savings required by State Auditor
show
$485,921 saved in CY2007
$448,247 in CY2008
$385,853 in CY2009
CY2010 savings currently being calculated by Gardiner Trane Co.
Results to be available within 30 days; estimated at $410,000. All
savings determined from base year.
30. SUMMARY
Poland’s taxes are below county and state average
to operate.
Poland’s spending is below county, state and
national average per pupil.
32. What is needed ?
2 School Levies on May 3, 2011
Renewal
3.6 mills
No tax increase
5 years
No additional cost
New
4.9 mills
5 years
COST?
33. Costs?
$100,000 house $50,000 house
x 35% x 35%
$ 35,000 $ 17,500
x .0049 mills x .0049 mills
$ 171.50 $ 85.75
-21.44 rollback -10.72 rollback
$150.06 per year $ 75.03 per year
•Which is tax deductible •Which is tax deductible
if you itemize if you itemize
•Which is only $.41 /day •Which is only $.205 /day
•Which is only $2.89 /week •Which is only $1.443 /week
