Ravenna board warned state budget changes could cut local school revenue

The Ravenna School District Board of Education heard that a proposed change in the state budget could reduce local property-tax revenue for schools.

At a business meeting, the district treasurer reported that House Bill (as cited in the meeting) would eliminate the "inside 10 mills" that cities currently receive without a local vote and that Ravenna’s share of that inside millage is 4.6 mills. The treasurer said officials expect a statewide reduction of about $3,000,000,000, with roughly $1,900,000,000 of that affecting school districts. The treasurer told the board the governor’s budget must be released by June 30 and that the district might receive the relevant language “on this Friday,” after which the treasurer will run projections for the community and the board.

Why it matters: the "inside 10 mills" revenue supports multiple local services including police, fire, parks, libraries and school districts; changes at the state level could reduce locally available operating funds, potentially affecting budgets, staffing and programs.

Details presented: the treasurer said Ravenna currently receives 4.6 mills of the inside 10-mill allocation and emphasized that the board and district staff are “waiting and seeing how this progresses.” The treasurer committed to producing updated projections for the board and the public after the governor’s budget language is available.

No board action was taken at the meeting. Board members did not adopt any budget or tax-rate changes; the treasurer’s report was presented as information and will be followed by formal budget work as required.

The board will consider formal recommendations once the district completes revenue projections and any related budget planning.