Sylvania Schools leaders ask voters to approve 7.9‑mill levy to shore up finances

Sylvania Schools Treasurer Adam Koch told attendees at the district's March 11 state-of-schools presentation that a 7.9-mill property-tax levy on the May ballot would generate roughly $18 million a year and is intended to stabilize the district's budget.

Koch said the district is heavily reliant on local property taxes (about 69% of general-fund revenue), while state funding has been declining as a share of the budget. "It is a 7.9 mill levy. It generates about $18,000,000 a year," Koch said, adding that the levy equates to about $277 per $100,000 of market value in the ballot language.

The presentation included a short video on the Ohio Fair School Funding Plan and Koch's forecast showing revenue and expense trends. "State average is over $18,000 and we're at $14.05," Koch said when comparing revenue per pupil to state figures, and he noted recent base-cost increases produced about $2.8 million in additional state revenue for Sylvania in 2023-24 but a reappraisal has reduced the district's state share.

Assistant Superintendent Tim Ziroff, who said he will become superintendent Aug. 1, warned of concrete consequences if voters reject the levy. "If we are unable to fulfill the 7.9 mil revenue that we're asking for in calendar year 2026... we'll have to cut $11,600,000 out of our budget," Ziroff said, adding that such a reduction would amount to roughly 160 staff positions.

Koch walked through revenue mechanics — including the effects of Ohio's House Bill 920 on effective levy rates after reappraisals — and highlighted that inside millage and new construction currently produce modest revenue growth. He said the district received $1.4 million in delinquent-tax settlements recently and is projecting small revenue growth in the near term without the levy.

On the expense side, Koch said about 86% of general-fund costs go to employees and listed rising costs in special education, transportation and operations. He said special-education spending has increased by more than 42% (about $5 million) since 2018 and that recent contractual and operational savings helped avoid larger increases in health-insurance costs.

Koch presented a five-year forecast showing structural deficits absent new revenue and said the 7.9-mill levy would bring roughly $18.2 million and delay projected deficits into the later years of the forecast. The district has not yet voted on the levy in this meeting; the presentation was for community information ahead of the May ballot.

The district urged residents to review materials and attend upcoming events where staff and board members will answer questions; board President Greg Feller closed the presentation by thanking attendees for participating.