EducateHilliard.org

Why Do My Property Taxes Keep Increasing?

This chart tells the story - spending is rising faster than funding. Without additional funding - or a dramatic decrease in the rate of spending growth - our School District will be out of money in 2011.

But that's not all.

Even if we pass a new permanent operating levy in 2011, another levy will likely be needed no later than 2013... and again in 2015... and every two years as long as we allow spending to continue on this trajectory.

Unless some things change.

Where Does My Tax Money Go?

The school district is by far the agency receiving the largest share of your property taxes - approximately 70%*. It is also the portion of your property taxes which has grown the most in terms of dollars over the past decade.

Our school district, like every other school district, spends nearly all of its money on two things:

Are Property Taxes Unconstitutional?

This question came to us from a reader:

"I have been hearing many people say school funding is unconstitutional as reasons why they vote no on levies, but I really don't know what is EXACTLY unconstitutional about it, and I don't think they do either. Could you tell me what the Supreme Court actually ruled unconstitutional about our school funding system. I appreciate your time. Thank you!"

Thanks for your question.

This is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented issues in the dialog about school funding in Ohio.

Doesn't the State of Ohio Help?

Yes. The State of Ohio provides about one-third of the funding used to operate our school district. The existing school funding scheme in Ohio is simple:

Dispatch Recognizes That We Do Our Homework

Be constructive | Columbus Dispatch Politics

Sunday, October 25, 2009 3:47 AM
The Columbus Dispatch

For supporters of local public school districts, challenging business as usual has been hard.

Organized opposition to school levies isn't uncommon, but it has been from groups with little message beyond, "Schools waste our money, and we don't want more taxes."

There are probably many people who think district spending could be improved but who aren't willing to simply vote no against tax requests. They reluctantly support tax levies because they don't want to plunge their schools into a financial crisis.

But, as the economy grows tougher and families' budgets get tighter, school districts may not be able to count on those votes.

School-district-watchdog groups such as EducateHilliard.org and EducateWorthington.org may represent a new phenomenon: people who decry the steady upward trajectory of school spending but are willing to do their homework and suggest alternatives.

More Articles...