What is an Operating Levy?

  • Operating Levies are for the day-to-day financial operations of a school district. For example: teacher salaries, electricity, gasoline for buses, instructional supplies, day-to-day maintenance of buildings, sports and extracurricular activities not covered by pay-to-play, and all other expenses permitted by law.
  • There are two types of operating levies: Regular and Emergency.
  1. Regular Operating Levies ask for a particular millage rate (taxation rate) for a specific amount of time or on a continuing basis. Regular operating levies do provide increased revenue when new construction occurs in the district.
  2. Emergency Operating Levies ask for a particular amount of money and then the millage rate is set annually to collect that amount. Emergency operating levies are for specific time periods and do not provide increased revenues with new construction in the district.
Why put up an operating levy now?
The Southwest Licking Local School District is asking voters to renew an Emergency Operating Levy that expired on December 31, 2009 and will stop collecting monies at the end of 2010.

FACTS:  
  • The original Emergency Operating Levy was approved at 7 mills to collect $3.25 million dollars per year. Due to growth in the district and growth in property values, the millage rate was adjusted by the Licking County Auditor to 5.6 mills, but the levy still collects $3.25 million per year. 
  • The 7 mill levy, now collecting at 5.6 mills, expired in December of 2009 and must be renewed with an increase for the school district to remain financially sound for the next two to three years. The district actually needs more than it is asking the taxpayers for at this time, but understands the economy and the needs of its community, and feels that now is not the time to ask for double-digit millage.
  • The school district is asking instead for a 3.9 mill increase, which will collect an additional $2.25 million per year, for a total of 9.5 mills and $5.5 million dollars per year.
  • Presently, the district is making cuts 1.2 million dollars in cuts to the budget for the next two calendar years. These cost savings measures will take place despite any levy outcome:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. The treasurer's assistant recently took a position in another school district. This position will not be filled for a savings of $63,300.
  4. 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. 
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. All discretionary monies for budgeted building meetings and department meetings will be eliminated for a savings of $30,900. 

Other measures are being considered and will be shared with you as soon as they are approved.