By Greg Denecker
Superintendent Bluffton Exempted Village Schools

On May 6, the Bluffton Exempted Village School District asks for your continued support of the renewal of the existing levy with an increase to the same millage rate as 1999. Below is a quick overview of the renewal levy and its purpose:

We are asking for your vote of support on May 6, 2014, for the same millage rate that was passed in 1999 at 4.9 mills. 

Facts:
   · The levy was originally passed in November, 1999, at 4.9 mills generating $466,000.

   · As the valuation of the district increased, the millage amount decreased and was most recently renewed at 3.44 mills in 2009; the district is currently collecting $466,000 on this levy.

   · The proposed levy will be on the ballot May 6, 2014, to be renewed back to the original 4.9  mills generating $714,392.

   · This is not a new tax; it is a renewal plus an increase in millage back to 4.9 mills that was voted on in 1999. 

   · The first collection of the renewal would begin in calendar year 2015.

   · Over the last four years the state has cut funding to our district for a total of more than $1.2 million.

   · The district has absorbed 8 teachers and 4 bus drivers due to this reduced state funding.

   · The most recent fiscal year data (2012) shows our district spends $2,200 less per student than state average.

   · The millage rate was reduced from 4.9 mills in 1999 to 3.44 mills in 2009.  A “yes” vote would return the millage to the 4.9 rate of 1999.

    -The additional cost of this levy (to 4.9 mills) for a $100,000 home is less than a $1 more per week. 

   - We held our spending flat in fiscal year 2012; our expenditure per pupil was only $1 more than it was in fiscal year 2007. 

   - Bluffton Exempted Village Schools’ performance index ranks in the top 6% of all districts in the state and ranks in the bottom 20% in expenditures per pupil. 

What is the money used for? 
Money from the levy is placed in the general fund to be used for operating expenses. 

These funds allow our school system to continue its legacy of excellence. 

In fiscal year 2007, we spent $8,307 per pupil to educate our students. In fiscal year 2012, which is the most recent date that statewide comparison expenditure statistics are available, we spent $8,308.19 per student to educate each child. This is $2,200+ less than the state average of $10,597.21 per student statewide. 

Liberty-Benton is one of the 20 most similar districts to us in the state, and their expenditure per pupil in 2012 was $9,017.78; their performance index was 102.8, compared to our district’s performance index of 107.4. 

As noted above, our district performs among the highest levels in the state for much less money on average.

This levy is critical for the on-going financial stability of our district. As good stewards of your tax money, we have made cuts over the past 6 years to stay off the ballot for any new operating money for as long as possible. 

These cuts include the following: four fewer bus drivers, a change from two bus routes to one K-12 route, and we absorbed eight teachers through attrition. 

It would be very difficult to cut staffing any further without a major impact to our students and school district.  We will continue to look for ways to save money with as little impact to our students as possible.  These strides have been made possible because of a supportive community, excellent students, and a dedicated staff that work together for the betterment of our schools. 

Community information meetings

If you would like to hear more about the levy, please come to one of our Community Levy Information meetings which will be held on:
• Tuesday, April 22 
• Thursday, April 24 
• Tuesday, April 29  
• Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in the elementary library. 

If you cannot make it to a meeting and have questions, please call me at (419) 358-5901 or stop by my office.

You may also contact one of our levy committee members: Jason Granger, Chairperson; Sam Diller, Treasurer; Alice Basinger, Tyler Bricker, Tim Closson, Bill Croft,  Roger Edwards, Mike Edmiston, Brian Goldsberry, Mardy Herr, Wes Klinger, Brendon Matthews, Amanda Stechschulte, Renee Smith, Tammy Whitlow and Nancy Yeager. 

In closing, I would like to thank you for your efforts in sustaining our district in the past, both financially and through the support you give our students and staff on a daily basis.  Please vote “yes” for the renewal levy to continue Bluffton Schools’ tradition of excellence.