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Poland schools seek five-year renewal of emergency operating levy
POLAND
Voters in the Poland Local School District will see a levy renewal on the ballot in the November general election.
The school district is seeking a five-year renewal of an emergency operating levy that first was approved by voters in 2003.
The levy, which was renewed in 2008 and 2013, generates $2,297,755 annually. Emergency levies generate a fixed amount. With current property values, the levy represents 6 mills.
District Treasurer Janet Muntean said renewal of the levy is crucial for the district.
“Our district is heavily reliant on real-estate dollars – 60 percent of our revenue to operate the district comes from real estate,” she said. “It would be devastating for us for it to not be renewed.”
Funds from this levy are used for general operating expenses.
The district expects to bring in slightly more than $20.9 million in revenue in fiscal year 2018 and has projected expenses of approximately $21 million, according to the treasurer’s office.
The school district has been working in recent months to address a deficit-spending trend that began in fiscal year 2016. That year, the district spent $758,801 more from the general fund than what it brought in, according to the district’s most-recent five-year financial forecast. That forecast projected a deficit of $1.8 million for this fiscal year.
School districts must submit five-year forecasts to the state twice per year – in May and October.
Although the numbers are not yet finalized, Muntean said the October forecast will show some improvements.
“I would say it’s improved significantly from the May forecast; however, a deficit is still occurring,” she said. “All of the things we needed to address over the summer, they were addressed.”