Kettering treasurer, board president explain why local levies keep returning to voters

Justin Blevins, treasurer and chief financial officer for Kettering City School District, and Mark Martin, the district's board president, outlined why local operating levies often reappear on Ohio ballots and reviewed the district's basic FY25 revenue picture on the district's Treasury Talk podcast.

"When property values increase, House Bill 920 steps in and reduces the tax millage so the district only receives the amount that was voted on when the levy passed," Martin said, summarizing the state rule that limits how much operating levy revenue can grow as assessed values rise. He and Blevins used a "staircase" analogy to explain how each successful levy produces a flat revenue step that does not automatically inflate with costs.

The distinction between levy types, they said, matters for what taxpayer dollars can be used for. Blevins explained that bond levies are dedicated to long-term capital projects such as new buildings, land acquisition and major renovations and cannot fund daily operations. "Operating levies ... fund our day-to-day operations of the district such as salaries, programs, [and] utilities," he said.

Martin said the state's foundation funding formula also reduces state aid for districts with a relatively high local property tax base, increasing reliance on local levies. "Because we have a higher property tax valuation base than many other districts in Ohio, the state formula determines we have a high capacity to fund ourselves," Martin said, adding that the state therefore contributes a lower percentage to Kettering's operating budget.

The podcast reviewed core FY25 figures the district uses for planning. Blevins said local funding made up approximately 71% of total revenue in fiscal year 2025, with state funding about 24%. He described total general fund revenues for FY25 as just under $134,000,000 and the general fund operating budget as just over $122,000,000; he also said about 84% of operating dollars went to salaries and benefits, 11% to purchased services and 5% to other needs.

Martin described how those constraints shape board duties: operating levies require careful forecasting to avoid deficit spending, while bond proceeds must be legally kept separate and used only for the purposes laid out in the bond language. He urged residents to consult the district's publicly posted financial forecast and other documents and to contact district staff or board members with questions.

The episode closes with a production disclaimer that the podcast is for educational purposes, was produced by students at the Kettering Fairmont Career Technology Center, and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The district points listeners to its website for the full financial forecast and related documents.