Yellow Springs Exempted Village school board weighs renewing emergency levies as forecast shows near-term shortfall

The Yellow Springs Exempted Village school board reviewed an updated five-year financial forecast and was warned that income-tax collections are running well below earlier expectations, leaving the district roughly $900,000 short next year.

During a detailed presentation, the district's finance presenter said the first-quarter income-tax receipts were lower than anticipated and that tax collections can take several years to fully materialize. “Income taxes come in slow,” the presenter said, adding that, based on current collections, “we're about $900,000 short next year.”

The presenter highlighted forecast lines board members should watch—cash balance (line 7.02) and levy-related entries (line 15.01)—and explained the difference between scenarios that assume renewal of existing emergency levies and scenarios that do not. He told trustees that, without renewal, the district faces a sharply lower reserve and could need to borrow against future revenue to meet debt obligations.

Board members pressed on practical steps for the public after the presenter urged residents to check employer withholding. One member suggested broad outreach, saying notices should go on the district website and appear in the local paper; the presenter agreed to provide a PDF of the forecast and have staff notify parents.

Trustees also reviewed where recent increases in spending are concentrated. The presenter said purchase services rose the most because of necessary facility work—including bat removal (about $80,000) and unplanned HVAC repairs (roughly $200,000)—and noted that personnel costs are increasing as ESSER funding that had partially supported staff rolls back into the general fund.

The discussion turned to levy strategy: trustees weighed asking for a full renewal of two emergency levies (roughly $1.04 million) versus asking for a smaller amount now and a larger request later. The presenter warned that delaying a levy can increase the eventual amount sought because fixed emergency-levy dollars do not grow with inflation while expenses tend to rise.

Board members asked for follow-up details on several forecast lines, including the recent uptick in retirement and insurance costs, and said they want an additional, focused session before any final decisions about ballot timing. The presenter said the deadlines for placing a levy on the November ballot require at least two board votes (timing options discussed included May/June or May/July), and that missing certain deadlines would push a measure to a later election and likely increase the dollar amount needed.

The board did not take a formal vote on any levy measure during the session. Instead, trustees agreed to continue deliberations and to schedule further meetings so the board and staff can refine levy amounts and ballot timing.

The board then moved to other agenda items and subsequently discussed an executive session on personnel and property matters.