Curious how the levy affects your property taxes? Use the Franklin County Auditor’s Levy Estimator here: Levy Estimator.
Important note: Although ballot language states a 1.84 mill increase for the bond portion, the district plans to structure it so there will be no new millage or net increase in the tax rate.
Click HERE for more details on Issue 39.
Since 2016, home values in our district have increased by 89.1%, but district property tax revenue has only risen by 14.3%. This is due to House Bill 920 passed in 1976, which protects homeowners from significant tax increases. Unfortunately, this growth is partially offset by a $4 million reduction in state funding this year. Click HERE for more details in our Issue 39 FAQ’s.
The Board of Education unanimously combined the operating levy and bond levy into one vote to address both immediate operational needs and long-term capital improvements more efficiently. This approach allows the district to address the budget shortfall for day-to-day operations (such as staff salaries, utilities, and educational programs) while also funding necessary facility upgrades and construction projects. Due to the existing debt maturing, no additional millage will be collected for the bond portion. The District is currently collecting 4.0 mills for debt service and will continue to collect 4.0 mills, even with the passage of the bond issue.
By combining them into one vote, the district can streamline the process, avoiding the need to go back to voters multiple times, which can be costly and time-consuming. It also ensures that both needs are met simultaneously, ensuring stability and growth. This is not a new option for school districts in the state. The last Hilliard School levy, eight years ago, was also a combined operating and bond issue.
We are proud to announce that the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has released the 2023-24 Ohio School Report Cards, and Hilliard City Schools has much to celebrate.
Our district earned 4.5 out of 5 stars, signifying that we exceeded state standards. Even more exciting, the Hilliard City Schools was ranked #1 out of 606 public school districts in Ohio for overall value-added composite (value-added score), according to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. This is the second year in a row that the Hilliard City Schools has been ranked #1 in the state of Ohio on this critically important measure.
The value-added score, a pivotal measure of our students’ academic growth, goes beyond mere test scores. It zeroes in on the progress each student makes over the school year despite their starting point. This underscores the unwavering commitment of our teachers and staff to ensure every student is making strides and growing academically.
The Progress Component, based entirely on value-added data, compares students’ growth to what was expected based on their previous state test performance. This approach helps ensure we’re focusing on the individual progress of every student and their readiness for future success.
I want to extend my congratulations and gratitude to our incredible staff and students for their hard work and commitment to excellence. This achievement is a testament to our shared dedication to preparing every student for success today and in the future.
Thank you for your continued support as we remain committed to being Ready for Tomorrow!
Superintendent – David Stewart
Why is Hilliard City Schools on the November 5 ballot?
For the first time in eight years, Hilliard City Schools will be on the ballot. Starting in Fiscal Year 2023, our district’s expenditures began to exceed revenues, requiring us to dip into our cash reserves to cover the gap. While this has allowed us to maintain operations, our latest five-year financial forecast, updated in May 2024, shows the urgent challenges ahead. Without additional revenue, our cash balance is projected to decline rapidly, leading to a negative balance by the end of the 2028 school year.
Currently, our revenue is projected to grow by only 1.5% or less each year, while our expenditures are expected to increase between 3% and 5% annually. This growing gap highlights the need for new funding to ensure the long-term financial health of our district.
The new revenue from Issue 39 would help address this financial shortfall and provide funding for critical improvements, including:
For more information on Issue 39, please click the link below:
