OHIO — School districts across Ohio that took the leap and put levies on the ballot are trying to remain hopeful as the state of their districts hangs in the balance.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio has seen a downward trend of levies put on ballots since 2008

  • The Election Commission will review a complaint filed against anti-levy group Cleveland's Future Fund

  • Waterloo Local School District looks to break its failed levy cycle of 11 times in a row without passage

  • First ring districts look to make a comeback on the ballot


Typically, more levies would be on the ballot since it is a presidential election year, but this year, there's been a decline. There's 123 K-12 levies are on the ballot, compared to 151 in 2016 and 229 in 2008. COVID-19 is to blame for that, which cut out the opportunity to campaign door to door. So, some are waiting until next year, while others are hoping for a miracle. 

It’s been eight years since the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) has seen any new tax dollars. The district says inflation hasn’t allowed them to keep up as they serve a large economically disadvantaged student population, but that’s just the beginning of their issues. 

 

“Two-thirds of the levy comes from businesses, one third from homeowners. So, the homeowners are voting for the increase in taxes, but it’s mostly businesses that are paying for it," said Jerry Rampelt with Support for Ohio Schools.

Plus, there is an anti-levy group, Cleveland’s Future Fund, that has popped up to stop the passage of the levy. Rampelt believes the group consists of many business owners, but it’s not clear since they haven’t identified themselves.

On its website, the group poses a number of questions and highlights concerns aimed at renters, property owners and small business owners. They haven't just pressed their issues digitally, said CMSD CEO Eric Gordon.

“They've mailed now 10 pieces of literature that say vote no on issue 68," Gordon said.

It’s not the first time a group like this has attempted to defeat a school levy in the state. However, in elections, the public typically knows who is behind the campaign, who donated and how much money’s been raised. But in this case, they don't.

To top it off, Gordon said, the anonymous group has spread misinformation even about their the district's $600 million budget.

“The opposition's made a big case that we have a $1.5 billion budget. That's extremely misleading because that includes money that goes through our budget to charters or budget to vouchers that includes the value of our school buildings.”

The group claims the levy will “increase costs for everyone by $90 million each year for 10 years.” However, the campaign says that's not new money; the renewal raises $67 million of the $90 million, which is money they’ve already been collecting. But the levy would raise an additional $23 million each year. 

If it passes, it’ll cost residents an extra $7 a month. If the levy fails, deeps cuts would take effect in January. 

“If we lose those dollars if they expire on Dec. 31, we will have no choice but to close schools, lay off employees across the organization and cut programming for kids," Gordon said.

As CMSD keeps their fingers crossed, Waterloo Local School District, which is just outside of Akron, will be doing the same. 

“There are not expensive homes there. You have some farm land. And so you wouldn’t call it economically dis-advantaged school district, but again, it’s not a high income school district," Rampelt said.

It has placed a levy on the ballot 11 times and each time, it’s failed, which is unusual. 

“They need the money desperately, and it’s a tough situation," Rampelt said.

In this election, they’re just trying to get basic operating expenses.

In Southwest Ohio is the Winton Woods City School District, which sits in a suburb of Cincinnati. It’s a first-ring district, which means it located in a small suburb near a big city where the homes are smaller and closer together.

The neighborhoods overall have declined over time and caused people to move farther away, but now, residents are renovating the older homes and moving back closer to ​downtown. As the district looks to raise academic standards they’re hoping to get money for their new tech network.

“Passage of a new levy like this would bring new buildings with a high emphasis on kids graduating and having a successful experience in education beyond high school, all of the sudden a family can say it’s worth moving there. I want my kids to have this opportunity," Rampelt said.

It’s supposed to help kids advance in the world of technology.

Last is Pickerington City Schools, a high-growth suburb of Columbus that is racially, ethnically and economically diverse.

“Districts that are high growth have this continuing need for revenue to build new buildings. You have more kids, you need more buildings. And that’s what Pickerington has faced for a number of years," Rampelt said.

They hope to build a new middle school and renovate other buildings. Passage of this levy, like so many others, will would help them to keep up with the growth if voters say yes on election night.

As for the levy in Cleveland, a citizen complaint has been filed against the anti-levy group with the Ohio Elections Commission in the last few days. The Elections Commission said the matter won’t be addressed until the end of the year or early next year at the next Election Commission’s meeting. From there, they’ll go through the process of determining if the group violated any rules and if there should be any sanctions.