Granville schools warn annexation, Intel‑area development could create $9 million operating deficit
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Summary
Granville schools superintendent told the committee that recent city annexation and a planned 540‑home development will bring over 800 students but, under current funding formulas, will produce an annual operating shortfall of nearly $9 million for the district.
Jeff Brown, superintendent of Granville Exempted Village Schools, told the Senate Finance Committee that recent annexation by the city of Heath of unincorporated Union Township — land that lies inside the Granville district — will allow high‑density development that the district did not approve and that Granville residents cannot elect Heath officials who will make annexation decisions.
Brown said a developer plans 540 homes on the annexed land, producing an influx of an estimated 800 students when the project is complete. Because Granville’s local property wealth places it lower in the state funding guarantee, the district will not receive proportionate state funding for the new students and will instead face a projected operating deficit of nearly $9,000,000 per year even after projected local tax and income gains. Brown told senators that available options — including property tax increases — would be unacceptable to the community and that the district cannot “cut our way out” of the shortfall.
Nut graf: the superintendent asked the Senate to consider amendment language similar to Senate Bill 173 (amendment SC 2932 referenced) so that school district lines move with annexation unless the receiving school district agrees to accept the students; witnesses argued this would prevent municipalities from annexing land into their cities while leaving the originating school district to bear the fiscal burden.
Brown said prior conversations with Heath officials and developers had not resulted in changes to density; he asked senators to adopt language to require district boundary adjustments to accompany municipal annexations when appropriate or to provide state relief for districts affected by such annexations.
Ending: the superintendent sought the committee’s assistance to add language to HB 96 that would protect school districts from unconsented annexations that shift student populations and fiscal burdens; testimony was entered into the record and no committee vote occurred on the proposal during the hearing.
