Governor's budget takes more than $400,000 from Strongsville schools
Declining enrollment factored into reason for decrease
Busing below state minimums would be discussed should the governor’s state budget take effect. Strongsville City Schools stand to lose 5 percent or about $463,000. Photo by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVILLE – Ohio Gov. John Kasich unveiled his two-year budget proposal Jan. 30. While the proposed budget reduces the state’s reliance on income tax revenues by raising taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, goods and services, and oil and gas drillers, it also reduces funding to school districts that have lost more than 5 percent of their student population from 2011 to 2016.
The Strongsville City School District stands to lose approximately $463,000 or 5 percent of its state funding based on this formula. Fifty-five percent of Ohio’s school districts would receive less state money by the second year of the proposed budget.
Ironically, the budget increases overall state school funding by nearly $130 million next year and $160 million in 2018, an increase of 1.2 percent in the first year and 1.4 percent in the second.
Enrollment in the SCSD has declined by 1,334 students since 2011, a 20 percent decrease. The projected trends, provided by the district’s treasurer’s office, shows enrollment declining each fiscal year going forward from 2017 through 2021.
Enrollment for 2016 is at 5,342. Projected student population for the next five years are 5,293 (2017), 5,195 (2018), 5,041 (2019), 4,921 (2020) and 4,840 (2021).
“Obviously our enrollment has gone down. The budget will go through the legislative process and the end budget is typically different than the beginning,” said Strongsville Schools Superintendent Cameron Ryba.
Should the district lose half-a-million dollars from the state it would not necessarily entail the cutting of current programs, but could mean additional programming might not come to fruition. It could also mean a quicker trip to the ballot box for more dollars.
“We would look at not initiating new programs or enhancements we could add to the district because of the reduction of dollars from the state. It would be great to get second grade to classes less than 25, but maybe we would not be able to because we can’t afford another teacher,” Ryba said. “We’re pretty lean right now. Cuts to programs would be significant and we try to hold those off as long as possible. This would also speed up the necessity to go back on the ballot for operating funds.
“It makes it challenging to be competitive when the funds are not there. Those programs that set us apart like the number of AP (Advanced Placement) course offerings at the high school, gifted services at every elementary building, busing below the state minimums are things we would have to take a look at should we see that reduction.”
The district is currently absorbing a $3.6 million cut from TPP (tangible personal property tax) funding from two years ago. The money is being phased out with $600,000 going away this year with the remaining $3 million next year.
“We’re still reeling from the 3.6. Half-a-million dollars is half-a-million dollars. That’s a lot of education,” said board President Carl Naso. “There’s no way to prepare for this because it’s such a big number. I’m not surprised, but it’s disturbing.”
Strongsville School Board Vice President Richard Micko stated there are two things the district is seeking from the state.
“Predictability and stability are what we would like. Another round of cuts would be more than difficult,” he said. “Every penny counts and to lose half-a-million dollars from our budget means we’re going to have to count every penny again. You hear that mantra ‘live within your means’ and we have and have been doing that for a number of years. If you continue to take away our means it becomes impossible.”
Micko referred to the “cliff” when it comes to going to the taxpayers for more money.
“That cliff comes so much sooner when the state repetitively takes dollars away that they had been providing,” he said. “We’ve had this story of cut, cut, cut for several budgets and this one’s not any different. At the end of the day we’ve been successful and continue to live within our means. Because of that we have a Robin Hood effect. Money is taken from school districts like Strongsville and is redistributed to other districts. I reject the idea that we’re flush with cash so let’s give it to them.”
The district has a cash balance via savings during the past number of years. Expenses could exceed revenues with the proposed state cuts, so the cash balance would be reduced should the budget stay where it is.
“Starting next year and the years after we will be spending more money than we’re bringing in. At some point it’s going to be where we can’t catch up,” said district Treasurer George Anagnostou.
The Strongsville City School District stands to lose approximately $463,000 or 5 percent of its state funding based on this formula. Fifty-five percent of Ohio’s school districts would receive less state money by the second year of the proposed budget.
Ironically, the budget increases overall state school funding by nearly $130 million next year and $160 million in 2018, an increase of 1.2 percent in the first year and 1.4 percent in the second.
Enrollment in the SCSD has declined by 1,334 students since 2011, a 20 percent decrease. The projected trends, provided by the district’s treasurer’s office, shows enrollment declining each fiscal year going forward from 2017 through 2021.
Enrollment for 2016 is at 5,342. Projected student population for the next five years are 5,293 (2017), 5,195 (2018), 5,041 (2019), 4,921 (2020) and 4,840 (2021).
“Obviously our enrollment has gone down. The budget will go through the legislative process and the end budget is typically different than the beginning,” said Strongsville Schools Superintendent Cameron Ryba.
Should the district lose half-a-million dollars from the state it would not necessarily entail the cutting of current programs, but could mean additional programming might not come to fruition. It could also mean a quicker trip to the ballot box for more dollars.
“We would look at not initiating new programs or enhancements we could add to the district because of the reduction of dollars from the state. It would be great to get second grade to classes less than 25, but maybe we would not be able to because we can’t afford another teacher,” Ryba said. “We’re pretty lean right now. Cuts to programs would be significant and we try to hold those off as long as possible. This would also speed up the necessity to go back on the ballot for operating funds.
“It makes it challenging to be competitive when the funds are not there. Those programs that set us apart like the number of AP (Advanced Placement) course offerings at the high school, gifted services at every elementary building, busing below the state minimums are things we would have to take a look at should we see that reduction.”
The district is currently absorbing a $3.6 million cut from TPP (tangible personal property tax) funding from two years ago. The money is being phased out with $600,000 going away this year with the remaining $3 million next year.
“We’re still reeling from the 3.6. Half-a-million dollars is half-a-million dollars. That’s a lot of education,” said board President Carl Naso. “There’s no way to prepare for this because it’s such a big number. I’m not surprised, but it’s disturbing.”
Strongsville School Board Vice President Richard Micko stated there are two things the district is seeking from the state.
“Predictability and stability are what we would like. Another round of cuts would be more than difficult,” he said. “Every penny counts and to lose half-a-million dollars from our budget means we’re going to have to count every penny again. You hear that mantra ‘live within your means’ and we have and have been doing that for a number of years. If you continue to take away our means it becomes impossible.”
Micko referred to the “cliff” when it comes to going to the taxpayers for more money.
“That cliff comes so much sooner when the state repetitively takes dollars away that they had been providing,” he said. “We’ve had this story of cut, cut, cut for several budgets and this one’s not any different. At the end of the day we’ve been successful and continue to live within our means. Because of that we have a Robin Hood effect. Money is taken from school districts like Strongsville and is redistributed to other districts. I reject the idea that we’re flush with cash so let’s give it to them.”
The district has a cash balance via savings during the past number of years. Expenses could exceed revenues with the proposed state cuts, so the cash balance would be reduced should the budget stay where it is.
“Starting next year and the years after we will be spending more money than we’re bringing in. At some point it’s going to be where we can’t catch up,” said district Treasurer George Anagnostou.