Every day, my seventh graders walk into my classroom with an understanding that they will be fed, the lights will be on, the bathrooms will work, the water will run and their teachers will be paid to enrich their minds. In Ohio, my students are guaranteed this by voters through tax levies that keep our schools open.
This November, voters across Ohio are asked to continue funding their public schools. For teachers, students, families and staff of those districts, their decision couldn’t matter more.
In Ohio, school districts receive money for day-to-day operations from federal, state and local funding. Much of school district funding in Ohio comes from locally levied taxes through property and income taxes. Property taxes are based on the value of Ohio residents' homes or land. Income taxes are taken as a small percentage of residents’ income, and 212 districts in Ohio have active income tax levies.
Property and income taxes are vital to keep school districts functioning, so when school district levies appear on the ballot, it’s important to understand it’s not just a tax increase; it’s a district extending its arm to you as a voter, asking for your help to keep their school operational, pay their staff and make the education experience for your kids even better.
Quite often on local ballots, these two taxes appear as district levies, asking residents to contribute to schools based on either their income or property. This comes in the form of tax increases, which really grinds a lot of people's gears. In Ohio, many people are in agreement that property taxes are too high.
Ohioans have had issues with state property taxes since the ‘90s due to a variety of policy changes. The latest in this debate on the federal level, earlier this month, Ohio Senate members voted to restrict certain types of levies school districts could put on the ballot. In an effort to reduce residential property taxes, senators voted there could no longer be emergency or replacement levies on the ballot in Ohio.
Gov. Mike DeWine originally vetoed the change because of fiscal concerns for Ohio school districts. Now, school districts' only option is to propose a new levy each year or renew the current levy they hold, which would limit districts from asking for more money, as a renewal levy must stay the same.
However, it passed in the Senate, a move the Ohio Education Association said, “will cause extreme harm to Ohio’s public school districts, communities, and the nearly 90 percent of students in our state who attend public schools,” according to an Oct. 2 press release.
Unfortunately, with the new legislature, it seems many districts are going to find themselves in a funding crisis. However, the November ballot is unaffected by it. Making it even more important to get out and vote for your school levies.
Although there are no proposed school levies in Athens this election, there are many in Ohio’s other cities that will affect Bobcats who are registered to vote in their home counties. Almost 60 school districts in Northeast Ohio have proposed school levies. Cincinnati Public Schools also have an important levy renewal on the ballot, and Olentangy Local Schools are proposing a levy to aid in new construction.
School levies are crucial to keep Ohio school districts operational. If a levy doesn’t pass, the district faces budget cuts, which can mean cutting afterschool programs or sports, letting faculty go or being unable to pay maintenance staff.
The Ohio General Election is Nov. 4. Voters can view a sample ballot before hitting the polls to know what to expect. This voting season, remember it takes a village to make a school run, and you are a part of that village as a voter. It’s all of our duty to lift up our school districts and support them in continuing to fund the people and places that educate the future minds of America.
Clara is a senior studying education and journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Clara about their column? Email them at cl125221@ohio.edu.
