ROSSFORD – Voters in the Rossford School District will be asked to approve a new 4.49-mill operating
five-year levy in November.
By a vote of 3-2, the school board members approved a resolution of necessity at its regular meeting on
Monday night. In discussions preceding their "no" votes, both Beverly Koch and Jackie Brown
did not question the need for a levy, however both took issue with the timing preferring to delay the
matter until after the anticipated strategic plan is more fully operational.
President Ken Sutter, vice president Jackie Huffman and board member Dawn Burks all voted in favor of the
resolution.
If approved an owner of a $100,00 home will pay an additional $107 in taxes each year. The school board’s
treasurer, James Rossler Jr. said the district would expect to receive $1.8 million in revenue annually
from the levy.
In making his case for seeking the levy, Rossler told the board and those in attendance of the need
citing a stable at best or declining revenue stream and increased expenses. Rossler said the forecast is
for revenues to decline by 1.4 percent. He also expects a 10-percent increase in the cost of dental and
health benefits for the district.
"The picture here is not pretty," he said noting the district is projected to use up all its
reserve funds by 2017 and will be $2.2 million in the hole by 2018 with a $7.2 million deficit by 2019.
"Those are pretty serious numbers. We need to address this set of problems now," the treasurer
stressed.
He said even if the levy is approved the district will still be slightly in the red in 2019. "That’s
something we can overcome,"
Superintendent Dan Creps said he had asked about what it would take to have a perfectly balanced budget
and the answer would be 14 mills.
"We ran 15 different scenarios on how to fix this problem and not put a heavy burden on the
public," Rossler explained.
"Our revenues are not going to grow slowly, if at all. We need an explosion," Rossler said.
"We are making strides in making cuts but we have to watch that our quality of education at risk.
My recommendation is that we put forward the 4.49 mills."
"There are a lot of things in the audit we need to be looking at before we go forward with
this," Koch said referring to recently released performance audit from the state.
Both Creps and Rossler said the 4.49 mills is far more favorable than what was originally anticipated, in
part, because of the districts efforts to cut spending through attrition and the closing of Indian Hills
Elementary.
Creps said: "If we don’t get this funding approved now, you are talking about draconian cuts."
Burks argued in favor of proceeding with the levy citing a need to be proactive and go forward "now
so we are consistent and so we can build on looking at options in the master plans."
Rossler added: "If we wait one year, we’re going to need more money – significantly higher."
Following the vote, both Brown and Koch vowed to support the board’s decision.
"Once the vote is done, it is important to note we support it as a group," Brown stated.
Koch later stated: "Though I voted against it, it was the board’s decision and I will do my best to
support and promote it for the good of the district."
A special meeting has been called for July 28 to complete the levy requirements by approving a resolution
to proceed.
In other action the board approved the Enterprise Zone agreement with FedEx which will net the school
district approximately $360,000 per year for 15 years.