School Funding Facts
Potential Loss of Taxpayer-Approved Funding
April 28, 2025
Dear GJPS Families,
The state budget priorities set forth by the Governor have sparked significant conversation both within our community and across the state regarding the potential impact on school funding, as well as new or revised laws that could affect our ability to meet the needs of our students.
Initially, GJPS was concerned about a potential loss of approximately $5 million. In response, our Board of Education, superintendent and treasurer, alongside many other public school districts, have been actively working to educate our communities about the severe consequences such a funding reduction would have on our students and staff. We encourage you to review our Advocating for Fair Funding document outlining the impact of state funding changes on GJPS operations.
The budget (HB96) has moved through the House, and new language has been added, which is now under consideration by the Ohio Senate.
Why is this important?
Of greatest concern is the proposal to impose a cash carryover limitation on public schools. Specifically, this provision mandates that county budget commissions reduce local taxes and therefore funding for districts that have a cash carryover exceeding 30% of their prior year expenditures.
For GJPS, this legislation could result in an immediate reduction of more than $15 million in our operating funds.
What is a cash carryover?
A cash carryover is the money remaining in a district’s account on June 30 each year.
Cash carryovers are important to school districts because of the reliance on property tax levies in Ohio. The amount of proceeds a school district receives each year as a result of property taxes does not increase with inflation. While property tax income remains relatively unchanged throughout the life of a levy, a district's cost of doing business increases with inflation (transportation, food service, utilities, salaries, instructional materials, technology). Cash carryovers allow a district to continue to operate as costs go up until a new levy is passed. Typical operating levies in district's like ours occur every 4-6 years.
What does this mean for GJPS?
While the proposal to reduce property taxes may sound like a form of temporary relief, it will ultimately harm public schools.
For GJPS, it could result in:
- A permanent loss of more than $15 million in operating funds
- A likely need to seek operating levies from voters every two years
- Increased chances of severe cuts to our District’s operational budget, including staff, classroom materials, special programming, extracurriculars and more
In other words, what may seem like tax relief, only postpones when taxes are collected and creates public school financial instability in the meantime.
Furthermore, this proposal would override local voter decisions, raising serious legal and governance concerns about local control over our schools.
How can you help?
We need your support. Please contact your state legislator and ask them to remove the cash carryover language from the budget.
The provisions in House Bill 96 are statewide. No matter where you live, if you believe in local control and strong public schools, your voice matters. We encourage you to find your state representatives and senators and contact them.
Not sure what to say? We’ve provided a sample letter for your convenience!
Thank you for your continued commitment to our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Tracey R. Deagle, PhD
Superintendent
Cliff Hetzel, MBA
Treasurer/CFO
The Quick Facts
The state biennium budget is currently being looked at by the state senate. There are many things in the budget that will impact state funding and locally approved funding of public schools, GJPS included.
The biggest impact is the proposed limitation on cash carryover for public schools. The budget mandates that districts can no longer carry over more than 30 percent of the prior years expenditures.
This impact will cause an immediate effect on the District, with GJPS potentially facing an immediate reduction of more than $15 million in our operating funds.
Outside of the drastic loss of funding, this raises three major concerns:
- This overrules your vote. These funds are voted on by you, our community, and this provision takes away local control.
- Return to the voters much more frequently. With a cash carryover cap, we, and all districts like us, will need to return to the voters much more frequently.
- Breaking school funding tradition. The cap goes directly against a 50-year history of how schools are funded in the state of Ohio.
How You Can Help
This state budget is currently being deliberated amongst our state legislators. You can contact your legislators and share how you feel.
Not sure what to say?
Who to Contact
Senator Beth Liston
614-466-5981
Liston@OhioSenate.gov
Senator Andrew Brenner
614-466-8086
Brenner@OhioSenate.gov
Senator Rob McColley
614-466-8150
McColley@OhioSenate.gov
Representative Beryl Brown Piccolantonio
614-466-4847
rep04@OhioHouse.gov
Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur
614-466-1405
rep99@OhioHouse.gov
Representative Matt Huffman
614-466-6344
rep78@OhioHouse.gov
Financial Spotlight
Join the Conversation!
As a District, we have been talking about the state budget and its ever-changing impact on public schools since the original budget was released. Additionally, we are always transparent about GJPS funds with our five-year forecast and our monthly Finance and Facilities Committee meetings. Below are some of our materials from earlier on in our push to encourage our legislators to fairly fund public education.