How much is the district's March operating levy?  And how much will it cost me?

This fixed-income levy is 6.7 mills.  It will generate $10.95 million per year, and will cost $205.19 per $100,000 of appraised property value annually, which equates to $3.99 a week or 57 cents a day.

Why does the district need the money?

It has been nearly nine years since Beavercreek City Schools last passed a levy for additional operating revenue.  During that time, the cost of doing business has risen, the district gained more than 1,200 additional students, and state revenue was cut by 28 percent.   

Despite cutting $13 million from the district budget--an effort that included voluntary wage and benefit reductions on the part of all district employees--Beavercreek Schools still faced a $5.7 million shortfall at the end of the 2010-11 school year.  The district is now supplementing its operations with funds from its cash reserves, but these will not last long (see below).

Beavercreek Schools' cash reserves forecast (if the March 2012 levy does not pass):

• FY 2013:  $8.7 million
• FY 2014:  ($2.1 million)
• FY 2015:  ($16.6 million)

Note:  Negative dollar amounts are presented in parentheses

How can the district justify this request?
The recent cuts in state funding have forced school officials statewide to make difficult choices.  In Beavercreek, where we lost 28 percent of our state funding, we have examined our budget over and over, looking for ways to balance educational needs with the economic concerns of the community.

We have made three rounds of budget cuts in the last 11 months.  These include:
- $5 million in permanent reductions over three years, $4.2 million of which are to personnel
- $7 million in cuts over two years, which includes $4 million in employee wage and benefit reductions and $3 million in cuts to programs and services
- $1.9 million in additional cuts that resulted from the failure of the November levy

Why would district officials choose to put a levy on the ballot in these difficult economic times?
Unfortunately we have few options.  Even after renegotiating employee contracts and making three rounds of budget cuts, our district is in a deficit situation. 

Beavercreek Schools have not asked residents for new operating revenue since 2003, yet in that same period, we have seen significant enrollment growth and state funding cuts.  Without additional operating dollars, the deficit will continue to grow.

Without additional revenue, the district will need to cut even further into programs, operations and staffing.  
 

How does the district plan to use the money generated by the levy?
- 1.5 mills will be used to operate the new schools
- 2.0 mills will compensate for the loss in state funding
- 3.2 mills will be used to maintain the district's existing educational programs and services, but will not replace programs that have already been cut, with the exception of transportation, which will be reinstated if the levy passes.

How long will the proceeds from this levy last?

This levy will allow our school district to remain solvent for at least three years.

Didn't Beavercreek Schools have a similar enrollment and larger class sizes back in the 1970s? 
The district is approximately the same size as back in the 1970s, yet our special education population is significantly larger.  For example, we have more than 1,000 students--or 13 percent of our total enrollment--currently on an Individual Education Plan, which means they receive some form of special education service.  A significant number of intensive needs students who are in special education classes never attended Beavercreek City Schools even 25 years ago.  Rather, they were placed in a county unit or were served by another governmental agency. 

With that said, there are far more state and federal mandates in place concerning services public school districts must provide.  Many of these mandates are unfunded.  By law, special education teachers (known as intervention specialists) cannot have more than 16 students in their caseload.  The number of special education pupils per classroom is also determined by law.  Certain types of special education classes can have no more than six students to a classroom, while other laws only allow 12 students per classroom.  These laws result in a need for more teachers and classrooms.  

In addition, classrooms now have at least 4-6 computers.  These stations take up classroom space, as do the computer labs that occupy former classrooms. 

These factors require more teachers and classrooms than were the case in decades past.  

What cuts will result if the levy fails?
These cuts are being determined by Beavercreek Schools administrators and employee union leaders, and will be announced as soon as they are finalized.

The recent triennium update, completed in 2011, resulted in a 4.7 percent decrease in property values, which also results in an additional loss of revenue for the district.

The state's method of funding public schools has been found unconstitutional four times.  Some facts to consider: 

-        Beavercreek City Schools lost 28 percent of its state funding with the state’s new biennium budget--more than any other district in the Miami Valley.

-        Beavercreek City Schools receives less state funding per pupil than any district in Greene or Montgomery counties, including Oakwood and Centerville.

-        Beavercreek City Schools have not received an increase in basic state aid for more than 20 years.  

-        It has been nearly 9 years since Beavercreek City Schools’ last request for additional operating dollars.

What if I have additional questions?
Please contact Superintendent Nick Verhoff or Treasurer Stephen Maag at 426-1522.