Issue 36, the levy request on the Nov. 5th ballot, is only for day-to-day operations of Bexley Schools. If passed, it would be for a continuing amount of time.
Revenue received from voter-approved levies is fixed. House Bill 920, passed in the 1970s, specifies that voter-approved property tax revenue that goes to schools does not increase with inflation or from property-value increases.
The school district’s Five-Year Forecast – a state-required document – projects Bexley Schools will be out of money in fiscal year 2028, without additional revenue.
Bexley Schools receive about $1,900 per student from the state and even less money comes from the federal government, mainly through grants; more than 75% of Bexley Schools’ funding comes from Bexley residents through property taxes and a school district income tax.
More than two-thirds of our expenditures fund student instruction and support. This equals $.68 cents of every dollar we spend. The remaining expenditures provide staff support, utilities, and ensure safe and secure facilities. Data from the state shows our spending is proportional to that of all other public school districts in Ohio. As shown in the comparison charts below, we spend more than the state average on student instruction-related expenses, including teacher salaries; we spend about the same as the state average for administrators; and we spend less than other school districts on buildings and operations. The portion we spent on buildings and operations is less than most other public schools due to our lower transportation costs. See the comparison charts below for a complete picture of our expenditures. > Click to Enlarge the Chart
It is expected that 30-60 staff positions would need to be cut to cover a projected $4-$7 million annual revenue shortfall if Issue 36 does not pass, according to a budget report presented to the Board in September. Cuts would go into effect during the 2025-2026 school year and would be among all staff categories – teachers, maintenance, custodial, secretaries, administrators, support staff, special education paraprofessionals, and regular building substitutes.
Bexley Schools employ 356 faculty and staff members – nearly 74% are teachers and special education staff members. Another 21% are support staff like custodians and secretaries, while administrators total slightly more than 5% of the total staff.
Bexley’s last operating levy was approved by voters in 2019. During that year we received feedback from residents asking the district to find ways to ask for smaller requests. The incremental levy in Issue 36 allows the schools to receive funds when needed – not upfront like a traditional levy – thus lessening the taxpayer’s immediate financial impact.