News
Alexander will not put a levy on the November ballot as its financial outlook improves slightly
By: Theo Peck-Suzuki | Report for America
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ALBANY, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — After two consecutive electoral defeats, the income tax levy to fund Alexander Local School District will not appear on the ballot in November.
The Alexander school board voted 3-2 in a June 26 meeting not to file the levy. The decision followed electoral defeats in November 2023 and March of this year. Voters signaled little interest in renewing the income tax despite dire reports from the superintendent about the district’s financial forecast should that revenue dry up.
Speaking shortly before the school board vote, board member Jay Barnes said the outlook hasn’t changed.
“We have talked with staff, we’ve talked with community. There’s just not much hope in it passing,” Barnes said.
He added that the decision not to advance the levy became easier after he learned the district’s finances had improved following an extensive effort by the administration to cut costs.
Superintendent William Hampton said switching the district to a Health Savings Account plan has helped offset the pain of skyrocketing health care costs. The district has also made substantial budget cuts. Alexander is still facing a deficit in the next five years, but now it probably won’t happen this year or next.
As a result of the cuts, Alexander will have fewer bus routes, cafeteria workers and teachers this year. That means fewer electives, bigger class sizes and a harsher workload for staff. Starting next year, the district may have to start imposing fees for athletics and other activities. For now, there are no fees for students.
“Those changes are really big,” Hampton said.
But he insisted they wouldn’t compromise student learning.
“We’re going to be a very good school, with or without that levy,” he said.
At the June 26 meeting, board member Josh Collins expressed reservations.
“The existing staff will have to do more and the existing education opportunities will be dropped, so our kids will have a lesser experience,” he said.
Collins was one of the two board members who voted to keep the levy on the ballot. He said he doubts the district’s financial outlook will improve over the next few years and predicted that state funding will continue to decline.
Hampton said going back to the ballot in a couple of years is still on the table. But for now, he said, “we’re going to make do with what we have and we’re going to do the best job we can.”
He also expressed the hope that giving the community a break from the levy will cool the temperature in the district.
“Asking money from your community puts you at odds at times with your community. And the past two elections, we’ve battled that,” Hampton said. “And there’s a certain point in my mind where I don’t want to argue or debate the necessity of this and cause friction between the community and the school.”