Dear Vanlue Community,
Ohio’s House Budget for the next biennium contains language that some Ohio legislators have promoted as “property tax relief” for families. For Vanlue, this proposal would do more harm than good, and it’s important our community understands why this is the case.
Under the current proposal, school districts would be forced to return any taxpayer-approved carryover funds above 30%. While this may sound like savings, it’s really just a delay in tax collection. As funding levels for public education continue to fluctuate, our carry over is what allows us to continue operating without the need for additional levies. This budget proposal will result in consequences for schools that will be immediate and long-lasting since we will no longer have the resources on hand to weather these fluctuations.
The reality is this proposal does not offer real relief, as it has been advertised. Instead, it threatens both the immediate and the long-term financial stability of our district. The result will be that all schools in Ohio, including Vanlue, will be forced onto the ballot for additional funds sooner than necessary. Because the state proposes to liquidate the funds we’ve so prudently managed, we will be forced to ask for replacement funds almost immediately and also on a regular basis in the future.
We have worked hard to build a responsible carryover, which all schools were advised to do under former Governor Kasich’s administration. It’s how we ensure stability in uncertain times, especially when state budgets shift every two years. Our community has trusted us to be good stewards of public funds, and we’ve delivered. The funds that we have on hand allow us to maintain our high standards for education regardless of fluctuations in state funding. We rely on our carry over to support our students’ academic needs, retain high quality staff, address changes in state and federal law, cover unexpected expenses, and stay off the ballot for new taxes.
The budget proposed by the House would make it harder for us to plan responsibly, harder to weather unexpected expenses, and harder to provide consistency for our students, and it would almost certainly result in a yo-yo effect on taxes for our community. Even more concerning: this proposal appears to override the legal process that governs local tax levies. These are levies that the residents of Vanlue voted for. By undermining that, the state is essentially saying our community’s decisions don’t count.
We’re proud of the trust our community has placed in us. You’ve supported us by approving levies in the past, and we have worked diligently to spend wisely and make that money last. Your support built the foundation we stand on today, and it should not be undone by a state-level decision that ignores the will of our voters.
We’ll continue to advocate for what’s right for our students, our staff, and the future of Vanlue, and we encourage you to do the same.
If you have questions or would like to talk more about how this proposal could affect our district, please reach out.
Sincerely,
Eric Valasek, Superintendent Tracy Hiller, Treasurer
Please contact our state legislators and respectfully share your concerns. Here’s a message you can copy and paste or personalize as you please:
Subject: Concern About State Budget Proposal Impacting Vanlue
Dear [Representative/Senator],
As a resident and taxpayer in the Vanlue Local School District, I am deeply concerned about the proposal requiring school districts to return carryover funds exceeding 30%. This is not true property tax relief; it threatens the financial stability of our schools and overrides locally approved funding decisions. I urge you to oppose this proposal and support legislation that protects local control and allows school districts to manage their resources responsibly.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
Our Local Legislators:
Representative Ty Mathews Senator Rob McColley