In a few days the voters of Cleveland Heights and University Heights will choose whether to continue to fund our school district at its current levels through passage of an operating levy increase. Both a state performance audit and a citizen's committee have independently determined that present spending levels cannot be maintained without additional funding. Part of the reason that Ohio schools regularly go back to the voters for more income is House Bill 920, which limits school property tax revenues to the amount collected in the first year of a levy. Even though taxed property increases in value over the years, the schools do not see an increase in funding. Although other taxing authorities see income growth because of inflationary increases in property, sales and income tax collection, the schools must return to the voters to cover inflationary costs increases in their budgets.
Technology impacts the school budget in many ways.
It can both cause growth pressures and eventually cost savings. Often any cost savings are eaten up by increased expectations for the final product. It is interesting that the State Performance Audit that recommends many purported cost savings through cuts, contains mostly recommendations for cost increases in area of technology. Even if the November 2nd school levy fails, the other funding sources will still be available to complete current technology plans. These funds often must be spent in specific ways and could not be diverted to offset the general fund budget deficit caused by a levy failure.