September 16, 2008 -- Why will the Elyria City School District be on the ballot in November?
The Elyria Schools will be on the ballot with a 4.95 mill RENEWAL levy for operating expenses. The renewal is just that, a renewal, which means the District is not asking for more money from taxpayers.

Will this levy provide more money than the school district needs?
No. The money generated from this levy will maintain current instructional and building operational expenses.

Taxpayers recently passed a bond issue to rebuild Elyria High School. Why can’t the District use these funds to pay for operating expenses?
Bond issues are used to fund new construction and major building renovations. It is illegal according to Ohio law to use bond money to pay for the day-to-day operating expenses of a school district.

Why is the operating levy coming so soon after the bond issue?
Quite simply, the answer is timing. This operating levy that will appear on the ballot in November, 2008, was last approved in the year 2004, and is now up for renewal. Operating levies can be voted on for one to five years or for a continuing period of time. This operating levy is up for renewal on November 4th because its five-year lifespan expires in 2008.

Will this be the only levy on the ballot in the near future?
No. The Elyria City School District has three operating levies to renew this school year, the first of which will be November 4, 2008. All three levies are renewals and will not cost taxpayers any additional money. All three levies are crucial to the District’s ability to maintain and operate current programs and facilities.

What cost-cutting measures has the District taken to reduce operating expenses?
In 2007-2008, due to declining enrollment and increasing operating costs, the Elyria City Schools cut more than $3 million dollars from its budget through staffing reductions and building closures.

The District has lost nearly 2,000 students in the past decade due to many local economic and other factors. Because school districts receive funding from the state based on the number of students they serve, a declining enrollment means less operating money for the district.

Under-enrolled schools are expensive to maintain. The District closed two elementary buildings and relocated students and staff to neighboring schools, bringing many of the remaining buildings up to capacity.

The District keeps a watchful eye on enrollment and building capacities, and continually monitors expenditures, looking for reductions where possible.

What will happen if the renewal levies don’t pass?
Passage of the renewal levy in November, and the remaining renewals this school year, is crucial to the District’s operations. These funds pay for the day-to-day expenses of running a school district including text books and materials, transportation, supplies, facilities operations, instructors and so on.

If the renewals don’t pass, the District will be forced to reduce staff, academic programs, transportation and consolidate buildings even further.

What can I do to help?
Get involved! More information about the operating renewals and the Elyria Schools is available through the Elyria City Schools Communications Office. Contact Amy Higgins, Communications Coordinator, (440) 284-8183.