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Mason City speakers and finance chief warn House Bill 96 could cut services for students with disabilities
Summary
At the Mason City Schools board meeting, a parent urged the board to publicly oppose proposed state budget limits that she said would endanger specialized classroom services; Treasurer Sean Bevan presented district modeling showing a potential $18.5 million reduction if a proposed 30% reserve cap is enacted.
A Mason City parent urged the school board on Tuesday to press state lawmakers for changes to the proposed biennial budget, saying House Bill 96 and related measures could eliminate specialized classroom services her children rely on.
In public comment, Tara Lovitz said her family moved to Mason “almost 10 years ago specifically because of the exceptional programming offered to students with disabilities” and warned that the community risks “larger class sizes, fewer paraprofessionals, and major cuts to our specialized classrooms” if the budget passes as proposed.
The plea followed a detailed presentation by Treasurer Sean Bevan on the budget proposal’s effect on school district reserves and local tax collections. Bevan told the board that, under the version of the budget passed by the Ohio House, a 30% cap on operating cash reserves could force a roughly $18,500,000 reduction in local tax collections for Mason City Schools — about $1,900 per pupil and about 13% of the district’s operating budget.
Why it matters: Bevan and speakers warned the cap would reduce the district’s ability to smooth funding between levy cycles and to pay for services that are largely funded locally, including special-education supports. Bevan said the district finished the prior fiscal year with reserves near 44% of operating expenses, above the district’s 20% internal target but below some peer districts. He and Superintendent Dr. Cooper framed the reserves as a buffer against timing gaps and unpredictable costs, not as money “hoarded” for unspecified uses.
Bevan outlined the mechanics: state law ties property-tax millage rates to changing property values (House Bill 920), producing a stair-step revenue pattern when levies pass. Under the budget proposal, county auditors would adjust millage rates downward in the calendar year following a fiscal-year review that finds reserves above the cap.
“The way it would work is that if your cash reserve is above that 30% threshold at the end of your fiscal year, the county auditor would be tasked with making an adjustment to the millage rate,” Bevan said, adding that reduction would be applied the following January.
Public-commenter Tara Lovitz urged board members to “be willing to get uncomfortable” and to use their roles to ensure legislators hear stories about how the services at stake affect students and families. Dr. Cooper asked community members to contact legislators and said the district was actively advocating in Columbus; she asked residents to continue writing and calling their senators and representatives.
Board members and district staff said they will continue monitoring the bill in the Senate, which resumes consideration in late April, and will share updates with the public. Bevan said district leaders were in frequent contact with state lawmakers and urged residents to make their voices known.
What the district presented: Bevan provided the board with these figures and clarifications during his remarks: current state funding per pupil about $4,500; district spending per pupil roughly $14,600 (below the state average); a modeled reduction of about $18.5 million if a 30% reserve cap is enforced; and a district reserve target of roughly two and a half months (about 20%).
Next steps: Dr. Cooper and Bevan said the district will continue daily outreach to legislators and will keep the public informed as the Senate and conference-committee work on the budget this spring.
