The Hilliard City Schools Board of Education has outlined a contingency plan should Issue 39 not pass in November. While the district remains committed to delivering high-quality education, the plan addresses potential financial shortfalls and directs the Superintendent and Treasurer to make reductions of $7 million – $10 million prior to the 2025-26 school year if Issue 39 is not successful. The contingency plan, as outlined in the chart below, includes reduction guidelines to maintain cash reserves as mandated in Board policy while continuing to prioritize the safety and educational needs of students. These reductions include staffing cuts, increases in Pay to Participate fees, reductions in programming, and the delay of certain building projects. “Nothing on the list of reductions is something that I believe is best for our students and their families,” said Superintendent David Stewart. “Our goal remains to provide a safe, enriching learning environment for all students. However, if Issue 39 is not successful, it will mean that difficult decisions will need to be made by the Board of Education. We believe that voters deserve to know what those realities likely will be.” While the district cannot ask residents to vote a certain way, we remain transparent… read more →
See the Impact of Issue #39! Here is a chart that shows what each building in the district will receive if issue 39 is successful.
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.