Centerville City Schools board hears legislative update as several education and property-tax bills head to governor
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Summary
Board staff summarized multiple bills on the governor’s desk — including property-tax caps and education measures — and urged local advocacy while forecasting possible revenue impacts to school districts statewide.
At its regular meeting, Centerville City Schools trustees were briefed on a wave of education and property-tax legislation that staff said was headed to the governor for consideration.
A district presenter summarized bills that, if signed, would change how inside millage and certain levies grow. “It has been a bit of a whirlwind in the legislative arena,” the presenter said, noting that House Bill 335 would cap growth of inside millage to an inflationary indicator known as the GDP deflator beginning in tax year 2026. The presenter said a statewide estimate of revenue loss from that bill was roughly $620 million to $760 million over three years.
The presenter also outlined House Bill 186, which passed the Senate 30–3, and described a $485 million appropriation included in that bill to offset immediate revenue losses for some districts. Another bill, House Bill 309, would allow county budget commissions to reduce millage on certain voter-approved levies if commissions deem collections “unnecessary or excessive,” staff said; a committee amendment added a requirement for public testimony to both the taxing authority and unit before reductions.
Why it matters: Board members said the bills could affect inside millage revenue and local forecasting. Staff recommended local engagement with county budget commission members and said the district will fold new estimates into its February forecast. “There’s still going to be time for advocacy,” the presenter said.
Other education items flagged included bills that would change kindergarten admission timing, a requirement for classroom displays of certain historical documents (Senate Bill 34), the so-called Baby Olivia curriculum requirement (House Bill 485) and the Charlie Kirk–named American Heritage Act (House Bill 486). The presenter said some measures include immediate-effect emergency provisions or specific curricular mandates; board members expressed concern about classroom implementation and timing.
Board response and next steps: Trustees asked staff to incorporate county-level estimates into the district’s financial forecast and to share guidance with the community once local impact numbers are available. Staff reiterated that many of the numbers cited were statewide estimates and that local effects will vary.