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Board resumes discussion of Preschool Promise levy options; treasurer to return with analysis
Summary
Board members discussed options for renewing a $48 million levy connected to the Cincinnati Preschool Promise partnership and asked treasurer and administration to return with scenario analysis before a May or June decision.
Board members resumed discussion about renewing and structuring the district’s portion of the levy that supports preschool expansion and the Cincinnati Preschool Promise partnership.
Administrators outlined three options under consideration: (1) renew a $48,000,000 fixed-sum levy on a five-year cycle; (2) renew $48,000,000 on a ten-year cycle; or (3) pursue a substitute fixed-sum levy that increases the $48,000,000 base with the value of new construction and property changes (the substitute makes it harder to explain to voters but preserves revenue from added property value).
Why it matters: The district needs to decide whether to present a renewal in May or June and whether to use the substitute approach that preserves revenue from new development, which could yield higher collections but is more complicated to explain to voters and may affect state funding calculations.
Board feedback and direction - Several board members said they support a renewal, with multiple members expressing a preference for a 10-year renewal to align with other district planning. Vice President Bolton and others said they are open to the substitute version to capture new construction revenue but asked for more analysis. - Board member questions focused on how much additional revenue a substitute levy might produce (the treasurer said Hamilton County Auditor certification is needed to quantify new value) and on the timing and procedural deadlines for placing a levy on the ballot. - The superintendent and treasurer recommended keeping the item on future agendas so the board could decide in May or June after receiving additional analysis. The board received a timetable: first resolution to place an issue on the ballot is required by mid-January (for a November election) and the second resolution adopting ballot language is due 90 days before the election.
Next steps/direction: The treasurer and administration were asked to return with specific scenario analyses, including: estimated additional revenue under a substitute levy using county valuation data; draft ballot language options for five-year and ten-year renewals; explanation of how a substitute could affect state funding and state-share calculations; and recommendations for public outreach messaging. Board members also asked the treasurer to coordinate with the incoming treasurer for continuity.
