Perrysburg schools face funding unknowns PDF Print E-mail
Written by ALEX ASPACHER Sentinel Staff Writer   
Friday, 27 September 2013 10:12
PERRYSBURG - School Treasurer Matt Feasel is expected to produce a five-year forecast next month. The problem is, he doesn't expect to know how the district's state funding is calculated until early next year.
Changes in local school district funding were approved as part of the state's budget over the summer, but Perrysburg still has little reliable information as it begins a new academic year, Superintendent Tom Hosler explained during Thursday's school board meeting.
Hosler said confusion still exists within the public surrounding a 6.25-percent increase the district is expected to receive in state aid this year, as many believe that to mean an equal increase to the district's overall budget, which stands at around $41 million. But with state funding only 25.9 percent of the district's budget, the actual increase is projected at $498,515, or 1.18 percent of the total budget.
Hosler and Feasel attended a meeting with State Sen. Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green) last week and still don't know much more than they did before, except that the funding formula won't be available until January. Hosler said he's grateful for any increase, as Perrysburg saw its funding cut in the last two state budgets, but the looming uncertainty remains troubling for the school district.
"It's not just Perrysburg, it's every school district in the state. We're still waiting for more information about this year's budget. Of course, we're five months into the budget year" by the time the formula will be received, Hosler said.
The formula is critical "because that is where we go to look for how they fund different types of programs, because those are changing dramatically."
The biggest unresolved portion of that is whether the district will see increased costs to educational service centers for preschool programs, and the manner in which funding is withheld when students opt to attend charter schools.
"We're not sure what that's going to be for us," Hosler said.
In the past, preschool charges were directly withheld from state aid. Now, it will be paid to the district, which will be expected to pay ESCs for services directly.
Average preschool costs are expected to more than double this year, and it remains unclear whether Perrysburg will receive additional money to support those charges, or if it will be expected to absorb it into the 6.25-percent state funding increase.
Board President Gretchen Downs pointed out the problems with a system in which the state will award funding, then look in January to see whether the amount was correct. If a district receives less than it should, more will be awarded. But conversely, if the state sends too much money, school systems will be expected to pay it back.
"It was stunning to me," when they explained that, Downs said.
"How can anyone think that this is a good model?"


# 2013-09-27 13:07
Just ask the Perrysburg taxpayers for more money. We're suckers.
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# 2013-09-27 15:00
The suckers were those that voted for Kasich and the republican cowards who refuse to buck the governor for fear he will politically chop off those things near and dear.

The governor wants to shift the tax burden to the middle class while lowering it for the well-to-do.

One way to do this is to lower the tax rate, increase certain other taxes (e.g., sales tax) that hit the poor and decrease the funds sent to counties, cities and schools.

This strategy accomplishes two things. One, the governor and other republicans get to brag how they balanced the budget. Two, the tax burden is now moved to the local level where every school district, city and county either makes huge cuts or seeks a new levy to cover the loses.

It's a shell game.
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# 2013-09-27 15:41
Early in the debate on raising a tax to pay for a tax reduction on the income tax, Gov. Kasich wanted to INCREASE TAXES ON DRILLING (fracking). Conservative republicans wanted no part in that. But they did agree to raise sales tax 1/2 of 1%.
Everyone wants to raise the sales tax for their cause, but it is a slippery slope. Chicago has a sales tax of 10% and will go higher. oldham.
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# 2013-09-27 16:57
Hey Accounting: Why don't you just post the Ohio Democratic Party's newsletter to your post next time -- would be quicker for you and just as inaccurate.
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# 2013-09-28 07:44
Actually, what he says about tax cuts, sales tax increases, and shifting the burden onto local communities, forcing levies is spot-on accurate.

The debacle that happened in Bowling Green with the levy and a sudden partisan animosity that led to its defeat (and a slamming of school teachers straight out of Hannity) was a sign of things to come.
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# 2013-09-27 23:18
How in the world is a public school district expected to operate in the state of Ohio?

When the funding formula is so complicated that supts and treasurers can't determine how much funding they will receive and then go to a veteran state legislator, who voted for this funding system, and they still cannot get the info they need to plan ahead, financially, for the school district - this is simply crazy.

Why do we continue to elect the same people to Columbus? They are certainly not representing our interests and our system of public education is quickly (and effectively) being marginalized to the point there is little to no public confidence left.

It's not the schools, nor the administration, nor the board of education. It's the Governor and state legislature which must be held responsible for this mess.
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# 2013-09-28 07:45
There is outright hostility to our system of public education on the part of the people calling the shots. They want to push into charter schools, vouchers, privatization, and unproven online alternatives, all in the interest of cutting costs and taking credit for shell-game budget balancing. That's why this is happening.
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# 2013-09-28 14:48
Why are the school hoards shill paying the employee's share of their retirement at least for the treasurer and superintendents . In BG I believe new administrator hires will not get this paid for them (good move) but what about new contracts or contract extensions (such as just given to the BG treasurer)? Are the taxpayers still paying that?
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# 2013-09-28 07:51
Steve: Maybe schools do not know for sure about their state funds yet for two reasons: The funding is based in part on the student count that takes place the first week of October (at least it always has). Otherwise, the schools know what they're getting but they don't like to admit when they get big increases. Most schools have done better than a lot of private sector businesses and families in recent years.
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# 2013-10-01 13:59
Expecting the schools to "take it on the chin" like people in the private sector overlooks three things: 1. the fact that they were less directly tied in to the factors that caused the economic crisis, and it is unreasonable to expect them to preemptively renegotiate contracts just to keep them "in line." 2. The things that happened in the private sector were not good or positive and needing to be replicated elsewhere. 3. It underestimates the importance of education as an investment in the future. The need to attract and keep the best people to teach the next generation should not be trumped by the resentment of the Tea Party for anyone who works anywhere in the public sector and for unions, which continue to provide a valuable function.
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# 2013-09-28 08:06
Read the story carefully. So Perrysburg's $500,000 increase is only about 1% of its budget. If that's true there is no real planning, budgeting problem and the president of the board should know that. Maybe some board members are making excuses with their elections coming?
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