Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the school district asking for money in these hard economic times?
A: SWL has to ask for the renewal with an increase now because the Emergency Operating Levy from 2005 expired at the end of 2009 and will stop collecting money at the end of 2010. Without the renewal, SWL will be $9 million dollars short in the 2011/2012 school year.
Q: Why is the school district asking for a renewal with an increase instead of a straight renewal?
A: SWL has to ask for an increase of 3.9 mills to account for the more than 485 students that have enrolled in the district since the last operating levy was approved in 2005. This amount of students is equivalent to another elementary school full of students, yet the district has not been able to add many teachers to account for all of the growth.
Q: Why didn't the district try to renew this operating levy last year?
A: SWL first had to renew the Permanent Improvements Levy before the Operating Levy. The Permanent Improvements levy, which only pays for items that last for five or more calendar years, stopped collecting monies in 2009. SWL is very appreciative of the support of community's support of the Permanent Improvement Levy that allowed the district to secure land for future facilities, purchase new technologies like SmartBoards for classrooms, and make needed repairs to school buildings. However, Permanent Improvement monies can NOT be used for general operating expenditures.
Q: Is this money to help build a new school?
A: No, this is not a bond levy to build a school. The district is fully aware that the community is not prepared to pay for the a new school at this time. A good rule of thumb to help remember levy types is this: Bond Levies are for building facilities, Permanent Improvement levies are for purchases that last five or more years, and Operating Levies are for day-to-day operating expenses.
Q: Why doesn't the state pay for our operating expenses?
A: The State of Ohio does support Southwest Licking Local Schools, but expects that local taxpayers will share the burden of funding its local school districts. Not only has SWL's state share of school foundation funding gone from 62% less than 10 years ago to 38% today, but SWL lost 1% this year and will lose another percent next school year.
Q: How much money will the Emergency Operating Levy generate for the district?
A: The Emergency Operating Levy will collect a total of $5.5 million per year, or 9.5 total mills. This is an increase of $2.25 million per year, or 3.9 mills. The levy already collects $3.25 million dollars per year, or 5.6 mills. The dollar amount will never change, but the county auditor may have to change the millage rate to keep the dollar amount collection consistent throughout the life of the levy.
Q: How much will the levy increase cost me?
A: The ballot language reads 9.5 mills, but only 3.9 mills is new money for taxpayers. To learn how much the increase will cost you, please go here.
Q: What has the district done to curtail costs?
A. The district has attempted to keep costs under control since the last operating levy. It is the intention of the district to make cuts that will NOT impact student learning and achievement.
1. Even though Southwest Licking Local Schools has grown by more than 485 students since February, 2005, there have been very few teaching positions added in the district.
2. Several coaching positions have not been replaced.
3. All administrators have taken a pay freeze for the next school year.
4. Pay to Participate for band and sports have been in place since 1994 for middle school and high school students.
5. An energy audit was conducted with Honeywell to save money. The district also installed motion sensors on lights in several buildings for cost savings.
6. The district has replaced retiring teaching positions with personnel possessing an average of (5) years of experience in order to save money.
7. The district is currently balancing the budget for the 2010/2011 school year by making at least $600,000 in cuts despite any levy outcome:
A: SWL has to ask for the renewal with an increase now because the Emergency Operating Levy from 2005 expired at the end of 2009 and will stop collecting money at the end of 2010. Without the renewal, SWL will be $9 million dollars short in the 2011/2012 school year.
Q: Why is the school district asking for a renewal with an increase instead of a straight renewal?
A: SWL has to ask for an increase of 3.9 mills to account for the more than 485 students that have enrolled in the district since the last operating levy was approved in 2005. This amount of students is equivalent to another elementary school full of students, yet the district has not been able to add many teachers to account for all of the growth.
Q: Why didn't the district try to renew this operating levy last year?
A: SWL first had to renew the Permanent Improvements Levy before the Operating Levy. The Permanent Improvements levy, which only pays for items that last for five or more calendar years, stopped collecting monies in 2009. SWL is very appreciative of the support of community's support of the Permanent Improvement Levy that allowed the district to secure land for future facilities, purchase new technologies like SmartBoards for classrooms, and make needed repairs to school buildings. However, Permanent Improvement monies can NOT be used for general operating expenditures.
Q: Is this money to help build a new school?
A: No, this is not a bond levy to build a school. The district is fully aware that the community is not prepared to pay for the a new school at this time. A good rule of thumb to help remember levy types is this: Bond Levies are for building facilities, Permanent Improvement levies are for purchases that last five or more years, and Operating Levies are for day-to-day operating expenses.
Q: Why doesn't the state pay for our operating expenses?
A: The State of Ohio does support Southwest Licking Local Schools, but expects that local taxpayers will share the burden of funding its local school districts. Not only has SWL's state share of school foundation funding gone from 62% less than 10 years ago to 38% today, but SWL lost 1% this year and will lose another percent next school year.
Q: How much money will the Emergency Operating Levy generate for the district?
A: The Emergency Operating Levy will collect a total of $5.5 million per year, or 9.5 total mills. This is an increase of $2.25 million per year, or 3.9 mills. The levy already collects $3.25 million dollars per year, or 5.6 mills. The dollar amount will never change, but the county auditor may have to change the millage rate to keep the dollar amount collection consistent throughout the life of the levy.
Q: How much will the levy increase cost me?
A: The ballot language reads 9.5 mills, but only 3.9 mills is new money for taxpayers. To learn how much the increase will cost you, please go here.
Q: What has the district done to curtail costs?
A. The district has attempted to keep costs under control since the last operating levy. It is the intention of the district to make cuts that will NOT impact student learning and achievement.
1. Even though Southwest Licking Local Schools has grown by more than 485 students since February, 2005, there have been very few teaching positions added in the district.
2. Several coaching positions have not been replaced.
3. All administrators have taken a pay freeze for the next school year.
4. Pay to Participate for band and sports have been in place since 1994 for middle school and high school students.
5. An energy audit was conducted with Honeywell to save money. The district also installed motion sensors on lights in several buildings for cost savings.
6. The district has replaced retiring teaching positions with personnel possessing an average of (5) years of experience in order to save money.
7. The district is currently balancing the budget for the 2010/2011 school year by making at least $600,000 in cuts despite any levy outcome:
- One school psychologist is retiring at the end of the 2009/2010 school year. This position will not be filled, leaving the district with three licensed school psychologist, for a savings of $113,400.
- One elementary school guidance counselor is retiring at the end of the 2009/2010 school year. This position will be filled with certificated personnel within the district for a cost savings of $104,000.
- The treasurer's assistant recently took a position in another school district. This position will not be filled for a savings of $63,300.
- Each department budget in the district will see an additonal 10% cut for the next two school years for a savings of $62,000. Those budgets were cut 10% at the beginning of the 2009 school year, as well.
- One high school English teacher is retiring at the end of the 2009/2010 school year. That position will be filled by current staff for a savings of approximately $44,000.
- The district has applied for waiver days from the Ohio Department of Education that would allow teachers to be present at school for professional development without students, therefore requiring no substitute teachers. This alone would save the district approximately $60,000.
- All discretionary monies for budgeted building meetings and department meetings will be eliminated for a savings of $30,900.