Incoming superintendent Tim Zeroff: failed Nov. 3 levy would force about $11.6 million in cuts

At a June 22 Sylvania Board of Education meeting, incoming superintendent Tim Zeroff told the board and the public the district has taken more than $2.2 million in cost-saving steps but would need "to reduce by approximately 11.6 million" in expenditures if voters reject a levy on Nov. 3.

Zeroff said the district has reduced roughly $2.246 million over the last 18 months through staff reductions (about $1.97 million), cuts to contracted services (about $102,000) and reduced materials and supplies spending (about $175,000). He described a redesign of the district's health-care package that produced a premium decrease compared with a previously projected large increase, which he said yielded roughly a $9.7 million cost avoidance.

Why it matters: The board must balance its budget for fiscal 2026-27 while preserving classroom programs. Zeroff framed the presentation as a transparent update ahead of a planned November levy ask and said the district would publish a two-sided information sheet to explain the choices to the public.

Zeroff listed areas that would likely be reduced if the levy fails, describing the $11.6 million figure as an approximate target: staffing reductions (including administrative and exempt positions), cuts to building and curriculum budgets, program and extracurricular reductions (athletics, arts, music, drama and student clubs), elimination or reduction of supplemental contracts, reduced contracted mental-health services, fewer field trips and diminished alternative-education options. He also said transportation services could be pared back to state minimums.

Zeroff said the district has also pursued grant funding to offset needs; he reported about $1.3 million in secured grants targeted at student and staff safety, technology and mental-health services. He said the board will present a resolution on Aug. 24 with a more specific list of the items that compose the proposed reductions and that the district will continue refining whether the levy ask will be structured as a property tax or an income tax in upcoming meetings.

Board members said they appreciated the early information and deferred detailed questions until more colleagues could be present for levy-specific discussions at later meetings. The district plans to publish the information sheet to its communications channels and share it publicly ahead of the next board meetings.

Next steps: The board will meet twice in the near term to refine the levy proposal and will consider a detailed resolution on Aug. 24 identifying the specific recommended reductions should the levy fail.