As the election approaches, I have been asked several times whether Rocky River City Schools is on the ballot this November or when the district might return to the ballot. To answer that question directly, Rocky River City Schools is not on next week’s ballot. However, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some perspective on school levies, how Ohio’s school funding system works, and what it means for our district moving forward.
I recently came across a discussion about affordability amid rising costs. One commenter shared a familiar sentiment: “You know the schools will have another levy coming.”
There is a reason this is often the case. Under Ohio’s current school funding system, suburban public school districts like Rocky River periodically need to return to voters for additional operating revenue. While that is a reality of our funding structure, it does not diminish our responsibility to manage the resources entrusted to us carefully and make every taxpayer dollar count.
When our community approved the district’s operating levy in 2022, our financial planning was built around the goal of sustaining those resources for five years. Based on our current financial projections, we anticipate needing to return to the ballot to discuss an operating levy in 2027. Before looking at why, I want to share how we are working to manage costs and support our local taxpayers.
Responsible Planning and Spending
We recognize that families and homeowners are managing rising costs, and we take seriously our responsibility to make thoughtful decisions about public resources.
During the last fiscal year, our district saved $814,000, while expenditures increased by just 3.1%, compared with our original projection of 6.5%. These results reflect our leadership team’s efforts to monitor spending, identify efficiencies, and make informed financial decisions while continuing to support students and staff.
We have also examined our organizational structure to operate more efficiently. By eliminating an administrative position focused on technology and redistributing those responsibilities among other positions, we expect to save approximately $100,000 annually while continuing to manage our technology needs and support teaching and learning.
Additionally, on October 28, 2026, our Board of Education approved a resolution reducing debt-service millage by one mill, in addition to a previous 1 mill reduction in 2017. Taxpayers are expected to begin seeing the impact of this reduction in January 2027. This action reflects our commitment to evaluating our financial obligations while considering the impact of property taxes on local homeowners. These efforts demonstrate that stewardship requires ongoing attention to spending and a commitment to finding efficiencies wherever possible.
Why Do School Districts Need Periodic Operating Levies?
Public education is a people-centered service. The majority of a school district’s operating expenses are connected to the people who make our schools successful: teachers, support staff, administrators, and other professionals who serve our students each day.
Like households and businesses, school districts face rising costs. Salaries, health care, utilities, transportation, insurance, and instructional materials can all become more expensive over time. Even modest annual increases in employee compensation can add up significantly over five years.
Meanwhile, local school district revenue does not automatically increase at the same rate as inflation or operating expenses. State funding can also change, creating additional uncertainty for long-term financial planning.
One important factor is House Bill 920, an Ohio law enacted in 1976 that limits the growth of revenue generated by voted property tax levies as property values increase. The law was designed to prevent automatic increases in school district property tax revenue resulting from rising property values.
Here is a simplified example of how this works.
Imagine you own a home valued at $100,000 and pay $5,000 annually in taxes associated with a voted school levy. Several years later, your home is revalued at $120,000. Although your property value has increased by 20%, revenue from that voted levy generally does not increase proportionately simply because property values have risen. The effective tax rate associated with the levy is adjusted to limit that growth in revenue.
In other words, while property values can rise and homeowners’ overall property tax bills may change for several reasons, school districts do not automatically receive a proportional increase in revenue from existing voted operating levies. In addition to House Bill 920, other state actions have shifted the burden to local property taxes to fund schools, as evidenced by the state’s last biennium budget.
As operating costs rise while revenue from existing levies does not keep pace, districts must continually evaluate how to fund the educational programs and services their communities expect.
Balancing Financial Responsibility With Student Needs
Over time, school districts face difficult choices: reduce expenses by eliminating positions, reducing programs, or changing student services, or ask their communities to consider additional revenue through a school levy.
These decisions require thoughtful analysis and a clear understanding of the impact on students, staff, and families. As superintendent, I believe we must continue to examine spending and identify efficiencies while being honest about the financial realities facing our district.
Our recent cost savings, organizational adjustments, and the Board’s action to reduce debt-service millage demonstrate that we are taking these responsibilities seriously. At the same time, we must balance cost controls with our responsibility to maintain the educational programs, services, and opportunities that make Rocky River City Schools a strong school district.
Based on our current financial projections, we anticipate needing to return to the ballot to discuss an operating levy in 2027. As we move toward that point, we will continue sharing information about our finances, the assumptions behind our projections, and the steps we are taking to manage resources responsibly.
Any future request for additional operating revenue should be grounded in a clear explanation of the district’s needs, the measures we have taken to control costs, and the choices our community will be asked to consider.
An Ongoing Commitment to Our Community
I understand that affordability is a real concern for many families and homeowners. Property taxes are an important consideration, and any request for additional funding deserves careful examination and a clear explanation of the district’s needs.
My commitment is to ensure that our community understands where we stand financially, how we are managing taxpayer dollars, and what factors will shape our decisions in the years ahead. That means communicating openly about both our financial challenges and the progress we make in reducing costs and supporting local taxpayers.
We have important work ahead. Through careful planning, responsible spending, and continued communication with our community, we will work to balance the financial realities of public education with our responsibility to provide meaningful opportunities for every student.
Thank you for your continued engagement, partnership, and support of our schools and the students we serve.
With Pirate Pride,
Adham Schirg
Superintendent
Rocky River City Schools
