5 Portage school districts have levies on May ballot

Yahoo

10-04-2025

Three Portage County school districts are seeking new money in the May 6 primary, including one trying for the fifth consecutive election to obtain new funding for the first time in 20 years.
The Ravenna, Streetsboro and Mogadore districts have new money issues on the primary ballot. Aurora City Schools is seeking the renewal of a levy, along with Springfield Local Schools in Summit County, which has some voters in Portage County.
Ravenna City Schools has Issue 12 on the ballot − a 5.47-mill, 5-year property tax that would generate $2.75 million annually. It would cost homeowners $192 per year per $100,000 in property valuation.
Streetsboro City Schools seeks passage of Issue 13 − a 5.0-mill continuing property tax that would generate $3.885 million annually. It would cost homeowners $175 per year per $100,000 in property valuation.
Mogadore Local School District, which has residents in Portage and Summit counties, is asking voters to approve Issue 14 − a 5.93-mill, 6-year property tax it says will help avoid an operating deficit. The levy would cost homeowners $208 per year per $100,000 in property valuation.
The Ravenna and Mogadore districts are under the Ohio State Auditor's Office's fiscal caution designation, and have warned voters about increased state oversight if they do not approve a levy in the May 6 primary. It is the fourth trip to the ballot for Mogadore, and the fifth for Ravenna.
Ravenna's levy is the district's fifth consecutive request for new money.
The district was placed on the fiscal caution list in 2024. Voters most recently rejected a levy in November. Ravenna City Schools hasn't received new operating funds for 20 years.
The school district presented the State of the Schools on March 18, with officials detailing a grim picture of its finances. Treasurer Kristen Plageman showed various scenarios of the district's finances, which show that the only way the district can meet its expenditures is if the levy were to pass.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Ben Ribelin talked about reasons for closing West Park Elementary School, and said the district is looking at closing another building next year.
Streetsboro City Schools also is asking voters for new funding. In November, voters voted to renew two levies.
Streetsboro's Board of Education posted a two-page Levy Facts flyer outlining the details of the levy and the district's finances.
Treasurer Brian Haines said that while voters opted to maintain current funding levels in November, the district hasn't received new funding since 2019.
This levy is listed as "continuing," which means voters won't need to regularly approve the funding. Haines said it would allow the district's finances to stabilize.
"This would get us off the cycle of constant renewals," he said.
Haines said the district's five-year financial forecast shows it will need additional funds starting in 2026.
And although the district has taken steps to reduce expenses, he said, income has not kept up with rising costs.
"Our costs have increased, and we're not receiving enough new revenue," he said.
In November, Mogadore Local Schools' voters defeated a 5.9-mill levy that would have collected $743,000 a year for five years. It would have cost property owners $207 per year per $100,000 in property value. The district also was unsuccessful with a 5.9-mill levy in March 2024 and November 2023.
Mogadore Local, which has voters in Summit and Portage counties, was placed in fiscal caution in June 2023. If its financial state slips further, it could be placed under fiscal watch, which comes with increased state oversight, the Board of Education has warned.
The district's previous five-year forecast showed a deficit in 2028. An updated forecast shows deficits increasing to more than $900,000 by fiscal year 2029.
Aurora City Schools will ask voters to approve Issue 11, the renewal of a 5.61-mill levy for current expenses. It's the first time the district has sought renewal of this levy. Aurora voters rejected a bond issue in November.
Springfield Local School District is seeking renewal of two levies that voters rejected in November. Voters in Portage County will see Issue 15 on their ballot, while it is listed as Issue 16 in Summit County. Issue 15 is a 2.74-mill levy. This levy failed in November after a tie was recorded on Election Day. State law requires an affirmative vote for passage. Issue 16 in Portage County is Issue 17 in Summit County. This 7-mill levy failed in November after a recount. Voters approved a third renewal levy in November. Springfield Local is under fiscal watch.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ravenna, Streetsboro, Mogadore seeking new money on May 6 ballot