​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! 

Taxes and Cardinal Schools
Bill Blue, Middlefield Councilman

I feel our tax system is exactly backwards.  We only get to vote on local taxes, which are small in comparison to State and Federal taxes.  But here we are, faced with another tax that is truly needed in a time when voters feel like they are tapped out.  As a Cardinal alumni, I have seen many changes that have positively affected the school system.  When I think about what could change in the future if our community support falls short, it saddens my heart.  We have always been proud Huskies and right now future Huskies need our help.  I know how easy it is to say ‘no more taxes and grumble about the way things are done’ I do it all the time directed at the State and Federal level.  My grumblings don’t change things at those levels, but it makes me feel better. 

​Every voter can help make a positive change to a grim situation and feel better knowing they contributed to the education of current and future children.  And this feeling of helping the community goes beyond the village to all surrounding townships and includes both English and Amish families.  I have always admired how the Amish community steps up to build a barn, donate food, clothing and even animals when disaster strikes a neighbor and this is done without prejudice because it is a community action. While Amish enrollment in CLSD is declining, there are many very important education opportunities that happen every day within the Cardinal School system.

I mentioned earlier that I thought the tax system was backwards, only being able to vote on local taxes.  The silver lining to that is that we can make a difference locally.  There are a lot of bad situations in the world that we have no control over.  That is why I am glad to be able to contribute locally and see the positives happen in a timeframe not even imagined at the State and Federal levels.

I know people feel that some past decisions were not the best for the school system.  I do not know if that is true or not, but I do know that when opinions and alternative ideas are discussed constructively they can make the best of any situation.  So as an older Huskie, I would like to ask voters to think of younger Huskies and take the first step to turn this situation around.  Vote yes [for Cardinal levies] and then get involved in the school system at some level and make sure the education of Cardinal children is the focus of future decisions.  Help out and make your ideas known. It is a great feeling to be part of a solution, Cardinal children are counting on us to be just that.

 

Cardinal Local School District

RENEW on NOV 8, 2022 FOR

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?

A Thriving Community Relies on a Quality School System

Middlefield Mayor Ben Garlich

"There is a very important issue on the May 2 ballot. Issue 1 is a levy to enable continued operation of Cardinal Schools. I can’t stress enough the importance of passage of this levy for the benefit of our youth and the health of our community and area. A leading determining factor for selection of a place to live is the quality of the local school system. A leading determining factor for the establishment of new manufacturing facilities is the availability of a qualified and ample workforce. The determination for retailers to locate here is whether there are enough consumers to warrant their investment. The success of an area is simple. An area with employment and quality schools will thrive, attracting people and investment, yielding a quality where people want to live and prosper.  All efforts to improve our community will not materialize if the local school system is failing.  Please support our schools [on Nov 8] on Issue 1.”  - Middlefield Mayor, Ben Garlich

​​​​​​​ 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