INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE LEVY

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Below is the statement of facts that Superintendent Billy Smith presented to the Board of Education at the December 14, 2023, regular meeting. The Board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution, which includes the staff, program, and service reductions that will be implemented at the start of the 2024-2025 school year if the levy fails. The cost savings measures proposed by Mr. Smith and accepted by the Board are posted at the bottom of this page.

FAIRFIELD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Fairfield, Ohio

BOARD RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE STATEMENT OF FACTS AND DIRECTING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TREASURER TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING STAFF, PROGRAM, AND SERVICE REDUCTIONS IN THE EVENT THE MARCH 19, 2024 LEVY FAILS.

WHEREAS, without the passage of the March 19, 2024 operating levy the district will not have the necessary operating funds to maintain a positive cash balance as required by law; and

WHEREAS, the district is not legally permitted to operate with a negative cash balance; and

WHEREAS, the district is required to secure additional funding to maintain current programming and services; and

WHEREAS, further budget reductions would significantly impact current services and programs because the district’s cost per pupil already ranked second lowest in Butler County in fiscal year 2022, spending $2,412 less per pupil than the state average and $1,534 less than the average of similar districts; and

WHEREAS, the last operating levy in November 2011 was projected to last 2-3 years and the district has not sought an additional operating levy in 12+ years; and

WHEREAS, district local tax revenues do not increase proportionally with property value increases; and

WHEREAS, the current state biennial budget does not project an increase for future years; and

WHEREAS, based on the November 2023 five-year forecast, a 6.9 mill levy will allow the district to substantially maintain the current programming and services for FCSD through June 30, 2029; and

WHEREAS, the 6.9 mill operating levy would generate $242.00 annually per $100,000 property value.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT should the March 19, 2024 operating levy fail, the Board directs the Superintendent and Treasurer to implement the following staff, program, and service reductions:

• Restructure the middle school schedules to eliminate five (5) teaching positions for an estimated cost savings of $313,000.
• Eliminate four and one-half (4.5) teaching positions at the freshman school and high school campus for an estimated cost savings of $282,000.
• Restructure the Curriculum and Instruction Department to eliminate three (3) positions for an estimated cost savings of $188,000.
• Eliminate 1 administrative position for an estimated cost savings of $102,000. This is in addition to the one (1) administrative position eliminated prior to the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
• Reduce transportation to state minimums with a cost savings estimate of $1,300,000.*** 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board directs the Superintendent and Treasurer to implement the aforementioned reductions for the 2024-2025 school year unless such reductions may be made sooner without displacing any staff member for the 2023-2024 school year.

***Regarding the reduction of transportation to state minimums: Transportation services for general education students in grades 9 and 10 will be eliminated. This also includes chartered non-public and community schools. Only those students whose residence is more than two (2) miles from their school, including chartered non-public and community schools, are eligible for transportation regardless of sitters, daycares, etc. The District will explore the potential to declare transportation to certain non-public and community schools impractical.

On December 14, 2023, the Fairfield Board of Education approved a resolution to proceed with placing a 6.9-mill continuing operating levy on the March 19, 2024 election ballot. A 6.9 mill levy will allow the district to substantially maintain the current programming and services for FCSD through June 30, 2029.

If the issue fails, several cost reductions will be implemented beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. Please click here to view a list of the cuts approved by the Board.

The current financial summary from the November 2023 five year forecast is shown below.

Visit the links on the right to learn more. We will continue to update this information so please check back.