The Hilliard City Schools Board of Education members unanimously voted to place a 6.9-mill operating issue on the May 3, 2011 ballot. If this issue is approved by voters, it will provide necessary money for educational essentials such as teachers, textbooks, technology and more.

Since 2005, Hilliard City Schools has not received any new dollars from the state. However during this same timeframe, the districts enrollment has increased by approximately 900 students. Governor Kasichs budget proposal will cut Hilliard Schools state revenue by approximately $14 million over the next two school years. Without additional funds, the district will have to make nearly $4 million in cuts before next school year in order to balance the budget.

Since 2008, Hilliard City Schools has cut more than $6.5 million from its budget. These reductions include cuts to and pay freezes for administrative, teaching and support staff positions. The last operating levy request was stretched one year longer than promised and the district continues to receive state and national recognition for efficiency, accounting and accurate financial reporting.

Since 2008, Hilliard City Schools has cut more than $6.5 million from its budget. These reductions consist of:

• pay freezes for all employees including administrators, teachers and support staff;
• elimination of five and delayed implementation of one administrative positions;
• eliminating 54.5 teaching positions including K-12 teachers, K-5 guidance counselors, K-5 unified arts teachers, school psychologist, adaptive physical education teachers and some gifted teachers;
• elimination of 55 classified positions including noon aids, some high school hall monitors and some district repair technicians;
• reduced 11 preschool aides from five to four days per week;
• not filling two high school positions;
• reduced stipends and extended days;
• elimination of some programs;
• reduction of central office and building budgets;
• more efficient energy pricing and consumption; and,
• decreasing transportation costs by increasing the number of group stops.

Due to the loss in state funding from Governor Kasich’s budget proposal, Hilliard City Schools will have a budget deficit next school year. Ohio law requires school districts to balance their budgets prior to starting a school year. This means that if Issue 7 fails, Hilliard Schools will cut nearly $4 million from the budget for the 2011-12 school year. The board has already approved these cuts if they become necessary. The reductions include eliminating fifth grade band and strings, eliminating all middle school athletics, eliminating gifted instruction, eliminating 51.5 administrative, teaching and support staff positions and reducing an additional 247 support staff positions. View a detailed list of these reductions

Hilliard City Schools will have the necessary revenue to keep the excellent programs that are important to community members. Responsible reductions will continue to be made but the nearly $4 million in cuts will not be necessary for the 2011-12 school year. Property values of Hilliard Schools’ homes will stay strong and our community will continue to be desirable for perspective home buyers.

Hilliard City Schools currently receives 36.62 percent of its funding from the state and federal level and 60.72 percent in the form of local taxes. However, the district will lose millions of dollars in state school funding due to the budget proposal from Governor Kasich.

Hilliard City Schools’ leaders make prudent financial decisions on a regular basis to ensure that tax dollars are spent in the appropriate areas. For instance, the district spent 61.3 percent of its expenditure per pupil in the area of instruction last school year. These expenses include the salaries and benefits of teaching personnel that are essential in education students. Another 10.3 percent was spent in the area of pupil support. These expenditures are for non-instructional areas that enhance the student development process such as counseling, psychological services and health services. Only nine percent was spent on administrative expenditures. In fact, Hilliard City Schools has the lowest administrative expenditure per pupil of the 16 school districts in Franklin County. The district spent 15.7 percent in the area of building operations and only 3.7 percent in staff support expenditures.

While these numbers sound good, it is important to put them into context and compare them to the state average. For example, the state average administrative expenditure per pupil is 12 percent, while only 56 percent is dedicated to instructional expenses. The state average expenditure per pupil also includes 10 percent for pupil support, 19 percent for building operations and three percent for staff support.