November 20, 2024
Dear Anthony Wayne Local Schools Stakeholders,
We are reaching out to provide you with an update on the November 5 election results and share information about the recently approved District’s 5-Year Forecast.
Operational Levy Outcome
As of today, the Lucas, Wood and Fulton County Boards of Elections have certified their ballot counts and the District’s proposed 2.42-mill operational levy currently stands at 10,432 for the levy and 10,436 opposed to the levy - a difference of just four votes. Since the difference is within 0.5 percent, the state requires a recount. We are still waiting for official results, but are moving forward as if the levy failed.
Effect on Taxpayers
As was shared in October, we do anticipate that the new property valuations will push the District’s voted millage to fall below the 20-mill floor required by the Ohio state constitution. We are still holding out for more information from the Lucas County Auditor’s office regarding the extent of the impact this will have on property owners in the District.
5-Year Forecast
At its regular November meeting on Monday, the AWLS Board of Education approved the District’s 5-Year Forecast. This financial planning document is submitted to the state Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) each twice annually (November and May) as a way to assess and predict the financial health of a school district. [You can watch the meeting recording online here.]
It is important to note that the 5-Year forecast was prepared using conservative estimates, based on what we anticipate at this time. We are still waiting on several outstanding factors that will influence the District’s projected revenues:
- the state’s certification of the Lucas County auditor’s reappraisals.
- the effect of the property revaluations on the state-required 20-mill floor and the resulting increase in assessed property taxes for residents.
- the outcome of the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Nexus Pipeline.*
*The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the appeal filed by the Lorain County Auditor was not permissible. Nexus is to work with the Ohio Commissioner of State and auditors from the 13 affected counties to make outstanding and future tax payments owed to districts. We do not know the value of this settlement, or when it will arrive. Therefore, it has not been included in the 5-year forecast.
As you can imagine, preparing a budget with this many uncertainties has been a challenge. However, the good news is that even with the conservative estimates, we do not anticipate needing to make any additional reductions at this time.
Once more information is available, we will have a clearer picture of the District’s finances. We will provide updates as details are available. We should have a much better picture of the District’s financial situation for the May update to the 5-Year Forecast.
Thank you for your patience and support. We remain committed to the responsible use of taxpayer funding as we continue to provide an outstanding educational experience for our Anthony Wayne students.
Sincerely,
Kevin Herman, Interim Superintendent
Kerri Johnson, Treasurer
Anthony Wayne Local Schools