Cardinal Board Of Education member responding to Facebook Comments
Katie Thomas, Community Member, Retired Cardinal Teacher, CHS Alumni, and Mother of 2 Cardinal Graduates
Someone has posted [on facebook] that people should contact me for accurate information. I would like to go on record as saying that the levy committee under Chairperson Barb Rayburn has been accurate in it's reporting of the facts about why Cardinal is in this position, and the extra costs to the Cardinal community if operating levies continue to fail resulting in fiscal distress for Cardinal Schools. The math is very simple. The consolidation would impose upon all Cardinal residents a 1% income tax, plus seven additional mills of property tax to pay our share of the construction costs. In addition, we would pay 100% of the cost for a new sports complex, estimated at two million dollars plus an operating levy decided by a newly appointed school board. If you feel you can afford all this, well good for you! Many of us cannot! We are not a wealthy school district. Ask yourself and your neighbors if this is something you can afford? Will you have to move because of this additional tax burden if Cardinal is forced to join the consolidation?
There is a fork in the road ahead for Cardinal. Either our community supports Cardinal Schools by passing this 4.5 mill levy, which barring more cuts from the state, can keep us solvent for the next five years, or our community continues to vote "no" on operating levies and sends Cardinal Schools down the same path that caused Ledgemont to end up in fiscal emergency. The state came in and took over the leadership of the Ledgemont district forcing them to cut their students' education to the bare state minimums. Ledgemont had to borrow money from the state to keep operating and try to pass more levies to pay back their debt and bring back a quality education. When Ledgemont's financial troubles started they had an enrollment of around 600 students. As cuts were made, students started open enrolling to other schools like Madison and Chardon. When they finally transferred to Berkshire, their enrollment was under 400 students. If Cardinal ends up in fiscal emergency, the same thing will happen here. Parents will be looking for another district that will provide a quality education for their kids. Some parents are already talking about moving if this levy fails and cuts are made affecting their child's education. If the levy is defeated, then we start down the path that may lead to a consolidation with Berkshire.
It's up to our voters to decide on Nov. 8 which path Cardinal Schools will be heading. School taxes will never go away. It is the civic duty of every community to support public school education for their children. You, as a voter, will have the power to determine which school district you will support with your tax dollars; Cardinal Local Schools or the KSU Consolidation. Please consider the cost of passing the 4.5 levy to maintain Cardinal Schools compared to the projected cost of the consolidation. Either way, it's going to cost more money. The question is, how much more are you going to pay?
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RENEW on NOV 8, 2022 FOR
Cardinal Local School District
Why vote YES for Cardinal's 9.7 RENEWAL levy?
Cardinal's 9.7 RENEWAL levy on the ballot Nov 8 is NOT NEW TAXES. This renewal levy already generates $3,100,00. annually for Cardinal School District. Because this is a RENEWAL levy taxpayers will continue to receive up to 12.5% rollback credit from the state for this levy, which is a tax savings for Cardinal District residents.
Supporting Cardinal's 9.7 RENEWAL levy will allow Cardinal to operate "in the black" and follow state guidelines for public school financing. The historic passage in May 2017 of the "new" 5.5 mill levy, combined with the passage of the current 9.7 mill renewal will give Cardinal the revenue needed to be fiscally solvent. The state requires public school districts to be financially prepared to cover district operating costs for a minimum of 3-4 months. This is accomplished with a cash balance carryover. Because Cardinal's monthly operating expenses are approximately $1.4 million monthly, the amount of cash balance carryover the state requires Cardinal to have at all times is approximately $5.6 million dollars.
This renewal levy is not new taxes so Cardinal district residents can rest easy with this levy passage knowing we are keeping Cardinal in the black financially while taxes stay the same. This doesn't mean that Cardinal will have extra or excess funding but Cardinal will be able to pay bills on time and operate at current levels without the chronically predicted deficit looming over the district.
It's important to understand a renewal levy passage on Nov 8 is not extra funding for Cardinal, but current operating revenue that Cardinal has relied on since 1992, with a renewal every 5 years. This levy has been a long-term part of Cardinal's daily operating budget, but this levy is slated to expire on Dec 31, 2022.
Chronic school funding cuts by the State are affecting Cardinal's ability to operate at the level expected by the Cardinal community without a levy passage. The State's answer to state funding cuts: "Pass a levy to fund local schools!" Because of this funding attitude, schools across Ohio are in serious financial jeopardy, with only the local community to call upon for help. The State has heard the call but has said no to better funding.
Compounding the State funding cuts, diminishing TPP tax revenue for the district is creating a climate of ever-deepening deficit numbers as shown clearly in Cardinal's five-year financial forecast.
Cardinal has made serious staff cuts in the past five years that have kept the district solvent, barely, but those cuts affect the student population in numerous ways from much larger class sizes to fewer programs and less educational choices available, especially in the upper grades.
Without a RENEWAL levy passage now, Cardinal will be forced to make more cuts, possibly to State minimum requirements, which is a lesser education than students at Cardinal have ever received in the past.
Your support makes success for all current and future Cardinal students possible. Building a strong community starts with a strong school system. Let's make that happen together on Nov 8!
It's Time to Say YES
For Cardinal Schools
Barb Rayburn
Cardinal Community Member, CMS Parent, Mother of 2 Cardinal Graduates,
Cardinal Board Member
NOV 8