Dr. Anstead, superintendent of Perrysburg Exempted Village Schools, told the board on Nov. 24 that Ohio public-school funding has declined in inflation-adjusted terms and that several bills now on the governor’s desk could further limit local revenue.

“Our inflation adjusted state funding for public schools is now at its lowest point since 1997,” Dr. Anstead said, and described four bills that have moved through the Legislature and are awaiting the governor’s signature. He said the bills — House Bill 129, House Bill 186, House Bill 309 and House Bill 335 — would reduce or cap local property-tax growth, alter how levies are counted toward a district’s floor calculation, and give county budget commissions authority to reduce levies shortly after approval.

Dr. Anstead said the Senate made some changes favorable to schools — for example allowing some emergency levies to be renewed as fixed-sum levies — but warned the combined effect would “weaken the district’s ability to raise needed local revenue.” He also highlighted a $465 million reimbursement provision in one bill intended to protect current tax-year revenue through the next reappraisal cycle.

Board members pressed for clarification about how the bills would affect owner-occupied property tax credits and the district’s wealth calculation. A board member noted the legislation’s claimed revenue-neutrality for homeowners and asked whether changes would reduce funding available to districts. Treasurer Mr. Dror responded that while the changes are designed to be revenue neutral overall, the distribution of credit changes the incidence of benefits.

The district discussed organizing a grassroots citizen group to advocate in Columbus for equitable school funding, with board members and staff offering to support volunteers by providing data and background.

The bills remained on the governor’s desk at the time of the meeting; Dr. Anstead said the district was watching for a signature and said more analysis would follow to quantify impacts.

The board did not take formal action regarding the bills at the meeting.