“An additional levy helps keep up with inflation, and obviously our day-to-day operation and our day-to-day costs,” said Superintendent Jon Wesney.
The levy, if approved, would generate an additional $11.2 million per year, according to the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office. It would cost homeowners $136.50 per $100,000 of property value per year.
“Speaking for myself, it’s become very clear that the district is doing everything that it can to take really wonderful care of the education of our students and to do so in a very responsible manner,” school board member Amanda Graf-Hurst said during the meeting. “And we just need the additional revenue, so we really have to work with our community to support our schools right now and continue to look for opportunities to fix the system overall, but for right now to keep our schools functioning the way that we need them to for our students.”
The vote followed months of discussion about district finances at board meetings, as well as input from staff and community members via two community forums and four community engagement events in July.
Another community engagement event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 8 at Divided Ridge Park Shelter, 347 Beck Drive, Washington Twp.
Timothy Cook, of Washington Twp., who turned out for Thursday’s meeting, said he supports having an independent outsider examine district spending.
“Let’s assume the spending was judged to be fair and accurate and efficient,” he said. “Then I believe the fair way to (fund the district) is through an income tax,” Cook said. “I think the property tax is unfair, and it’s unsustainable for the long term.”
Levy supporter David Cobb said that the school system is the reason he bought his home in the district.
“I definitely think we need to be supporting our staff and our administration and our students by putting another levy on the ballot this year,” Cobb said. “I know that sounds tough. I know some people don’t like it, and those people can vote it down if they wish, but I think we need to do the right thing and always be there for our students and administration.”
Centerville/Washington Twp. voters last approved a levy for additional funding for the school district in November 2019.
Centerville-Washington Twp. voters in November 2023 rejected a permanent 5.9-mill additional tax levy that would have raised $12.9 million per year, with 5.4 mills going to pay for day-to-day operating expenses for the district, and 0.5 mills going to permanent improvements.
Then, this past March, voters rejected a request for a 3.9-mill operating levy that would have raised $11.2 million per year.
After the two levy rejections, the district implemented several cost-saving measures, eliminating 48 positions, most of them via retirements or resignations. The district said Friday that those measures are impacting staffing, transportation, field trips, the school calendar, and fees.
The cuts were based on a reduction plan the school board approved in January.
The school board and the teachers union also agreed to a new two-year contract with only a 1% non-recurring stipend, and no raises to base salaries.
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