Lorain City board asks county auditor to estimate revenue for three operating-levy options; library renewal also approved

The Lorain City School District Board of Education on Jan. 12 voted to ask the Lorain County auditor to estimate revenue that would be generated by three possible operating-levy rates and approved a separate renewal levy for the Lorain Public Library.

Treasurer (speaking during the meeting) told trustees that the district faces substantial revenue declines after one-time federal ESSER funding ended and other reductions. The treasurer said the district’s forecast shows "a projected negative cash balance beginning in fiscal year 2029," and recommended gathering auditor estimates before the board decides whether to place any levy before voters. "Tonight's action does not raise taxes and does not place a levy on the ballot; it allows the board to gather information," the treasurer said.

By roll call, the board approved three separate "resolutions of necessity" to request revenue-certification figures for: an 11.00-mill operating-levy option, a 9.90-mill option, and an approximately 13.37-mill option (as listed in the agenda). Trustees also approved a resolution declaring necessary a renewal levy for the Lorain Public Library not to exceed 5.95 mills for each $100 of assessed value for 10 years, beginning in 2026 with the first collection in calendar year 2027.

Board members and staff emphasized that the votes were procedural steps to obtain information, not decisions to place levies on a ballot. The board also approved a motion to have the Lorain County auditor prepare the estimates that will inform any future board action.

What’s next: The auditor will compute how much revenue each millage option would generate for the district, and the board can use those figures in future discussions about operating-levy proposals and timing.

Votes at a glance - Resolution of necessity #1 (11.00 mills): Approved by roll call (yes votes recorded by board members in the meeting record). - Resolution of necessity #2 (9.90 mills): Approved by roll call. - Resolution of necessity #3 (~13.37 mills): Approved by roll call. - Lorain Public Library renewal (not to exceed 5.95 mills, 10 years): Approved by roll call.

Funding context and clarifications: The treasurer cited a roughly $18,000,000 budget reduction tied to fiscal adjustments and the end of certain federal/state funding streams and said these projections underpin the decision to request certification figures. The board noted that approval to seek estimates "does not raise taxes and does not place a levy on the ballot."