The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
School issue receiving attention
Madison Schools leaders answer questions about proposed operating levy during in-person town hall
Madison School Board has followed through on its promise to hold an in-person town hall to provide information on the district’s proposed 6.99-mill operating levy. The event, which took place April 13 at Crossroads Community Church, 6685 Middle Ridge Road in Madison Township, also was shown by live-stream video on the district’s website. As of April 15, that video was still posted on the website for anyone who wanted to watch the forum, which lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes. During the town hall, Madison Schools leaders shared many facts and figures on the financial challenges faced by the district and why a levy has been placed on the May 4 ballot. The district also conducted a virtual town hall on March 30 which covered the same subjects. Madison Schools administrators are seeking passage of a 6.99-mill levy that would generate about $2.78 million each year, and annually cost taxpayers $244.65 per $100,000 in property valuation, according to the Lake County Auditor’s Office. The May 4 issue is a continuing levy, which means it has no expiration date. If the levy is approved, the additional money will be used to fund the day-to-day operations of the district and help to maintain the programming that currently exists. District officials fielded an array of audience questions about the levy that were submitted by email or written on index cards by members of the in-person audience at the town hall. Here’s a recap of some of the inquiries and the responses provided by Madison Schools leaders: • Why is this a property tax levy and not an income tax levy? The school board discussed both options and its members agreed that people have a clearer understanding of property tax levies, said Shawn Douglas, the panel’s president. “So we wouldn’t have to go through that education process, which is extremely difficult, because with income tax levies, one portion of your income is taxed, one portion isn’t, it’s very difficult for people to understand,” Douglas said. “We also thought our community was more likely to support a property tax levy.” Douglas said he also wanted to refute the notion that renters of properties don’t feel the effects of property tax increases. “There are very few landlords who have an increase in their property taxes who don’t pass that tax along to people who are renting the property,” he said. “I mean, how many benevolent, generous landlords out there are just saying ‘don’t worry about it, I’ll absorb the increase in taxes and not pass it along.’ I’m sure there are a few. But by and large, those folks are passing those (tax increases) on to the renters of the properties.” • The district passed a levy in 2017, what happened with that money? Douglas reminded the audience that the School Board said prior to the 2017 election that new money generated from the levy would last for four years. “We said we would have to come back to the voters and ask for increased revenue after four years, and it’s 2021,” he said. “So we made that money last exactly the amount of time we said we would.” Earlier in the forum, district Treasurer Michael Vaccariello explained that Ohio law mandates that voted levies cannot produce more yearly revenue than the amounts that voters originally approved. “As your property values go up districtwide, the millage is decreased, so the funding remains flat,” he said. “That causes the following problem: As inflation affects expenses, there is no inflationary adjustment to the revenue.” • How many new, fulltime certified teachers at any level or subject will be hired if the levy passes? Superintendent Angela Smith said the district looks at staffing based on enrollment and how tight the budget is at a particular time. “So at this point, right now, the levy is to maintain what we’ve got,” she said. “It’s not to add staff or create new programs. That could all change if something changes in the state budget. But as of today, it is to maintain what we absolutely have.” • (A resident) heard the district will get more stimulus funds from the federal government — will that help? Stimulus funds must be used for specific purposes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Douglas said. Approved uses include programs to help students catch up from learning loss because of COVID-19; after-school programs for students to help with learning and social-emotional needs caused by the pandemic; and personal protective equipment to help prevent the spread of the disease. He noted that the stimulus money is intended to address additional situations or needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and would not help Madison Schools to balance its general fund budget. “You know, these are the sort of things, that are great things and we’re appreciative of the money and will make good use of it,” Douglas said. “But it’s sort of like, you describe to a family member or friend that you can’t pay your mortgage, and they offer to buy you a new outfit. The outfit’s great, but it doesn’t help you pay your mortgage. So that’s kind of where we’re at with these stimulus funds.” • Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s new budget calls for increased funding for education, will that help? Douglas said it’s important to remember that DeWine’s budget is only a proposal at this time. “Any governor who calls for (funding) increases has to work with the state legislature to get that through,” he said. At this point, he said there’s no way of knowing if Madison Schools will receive additional funding in the next state budget. “That would be great if we do,” Douglas said. “But we can’t count on money we don’t have.”