Urgent! Budget Proposal Vote Nears – Your Voice Counts!
Dear Liberty-Benton Community,
A provision in the Biennial Budget, now passed by the House—framed as “property tax relief”—would force school districts to return voter-approved reserves above 30% of operating expenses. For Liberty-Benton and all school districts, this would have serious financial consequences. Based on the current bill, LB will lose $2.2 million in revenue in Fiscal Year 26, $1.2 million Fiscal Year 27, and a total of $5.7 million over the next 4 years.
Thank you to the many community members who have already reached out to legislators—your advocacy is making a difference. As we await a vote in the Ohio Senate, we encourage everyone to contact Senator Rob McColley (President of the Senate) and Governor Mike DeWine to oppose the harmful budget proposal that will negatively impact Liberty-Benton and every school district in the state of Ohio for years to come. The Ohio House of Representatives has already voted in favor of this bill.
What’s at Risk:
? Usurps your Constitutional right to local control by overriding community-approved levies-negating your vote!
? Caps reserves at 30%, forcing districts to return funds that were planned and saved responsibly, and necessary to operate our schools.
? Destabilizes school funding, making it harder to manage inflation, economic downturns, or unexpected expenses.
? Forces more frequent ballot issues, potentially increasing the tax burden on residents over time.
? Jeopardizes credit and bond ratings, leading to higher costs when certifying bonds to borrow for future projects.
? Creates confusion and tax bill volatility, with sharp shifts year to year based on reserve levels making it difficult for residents to budget.
Academically, LB is among the top 15% of all 607 districts in Ohio, all while operating at one of the LOWEST costs per pupil in the state to educate. At Liberty-Benton, we’ve followed long-standing state guidance to build a responsible reserve, while avoiding frequent tax increases. Because schools only receive property tax collections twice a year, healthy cash reserves are a necessity to operate our schools. This proposal threatens that stability.
What You Can Do:
We remain committed to advocating for what’s best for our students, staff, and Liberty-Benton community. Your voice can help protect the future of Liberty-Benton Local Schools.
With Eagle Pride,
________________________________________
Subject: Oppose Budget Provision That Caps School District Reserves and fully fund our schools.
Dear (Insert President McColley or Governor DeWine):
As a resident of the Liberty-Benton Local School District, I am writing to express my concern regarding the proposed budget provision that mandates school districts to return reserves exceeding 30% and negates the benefits of the 20 mill floor.
Our district has diligently built these reserves to ensure financial stability, manage unforeseen expenses, and uphold the quality of education our students deserve. This proposal not only usurps our Constitutional right to local control, but also jeopardizes the fiscal health of our schools.
I urge you to oppose this provision and advocate for policies that respect the decisions of local communities and support the long-term sustainability of our schools.
• Do not decrease the state’s share of our funding in the next Ohio Biennium Budget.
• Use current data to determine the actual cost to educate, not data from 2022.
• Increase the minimum state share of the base cost from 10% to 20%.
• Fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan with the changes above.
• Remove the provision restricting school cash balances to 30% or 90 days.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email Address]