The last time Northmont voters approved a new-money levy was in 2016 at 5.9 mills.
The district says the new money is needed to maintain the district’s current offerings. According to Northmont’s November five-year forecast, the district projects deficit spending this year of $4.6 million. District officials project deficit spending increasing, ending with a $19 million deficit by 2028-2029.
Five-year forecasts are often conservative estimates. The district’s fall 2023 forecast projected a $350,000 deficit for the 2023-2024 school year; the district actually saw a multimillion-dollar surplus.
District spokeswoman Jenny Wood said the district is expecting to see rising costs in utilities and costs associated with special education.
That deficit would also leave Northmont spending through its cash balance.
State law requires a positive cash balance but no specific amount. However, the general recommendation for schools is 30 to 60 days of cash on hand.
Northmont began this school year with about 40% of a year’s spending in the bank, close to the average for Dayton-area school districts. But the financial forecast Northmont approved suggests revenue will drop this year and next year despite rising property tax revenues, while expenses will increase by 7% this year, then another 3.4% the next year.
Actual expenditures show a significant revenue increase in 2023-24, climbing from $61.3 million the previous year to $65.7 million in 23-24. That 7% increase helped the district finish $2.6 million in the black last year, after combined deficits of $4.6 million the previous two years as expenses outpaced growing revenues.
“All voted levies have remained the same,” Wood said. “At this point, we will receive less in state funds than we were supposed to receive, because of our increased property valuation.”
The future for state funding of public schools is uncertain, with state lawmakers expressing interest in revising Ohio’s school funding formula.
Northmont has already made cuts after two levies failed in 2023, including closing Englewood Elementary, and cutting 41 positions and several programs. The district board offices were also relocated in 2024 to space at the Kleptz YMCA that had been vacated by Sinclair Community College, a move that officials estimated will save around $135,000 annually, with plans to rent out their former board office.
The last time Northmont voters approved a new levy was 2016 at 5.9 mills.
More cuts are expected if the levy does not pass but the details have not yet been worked out.
“The community as a whole is going to suffer, and it took us 10 years to come back from the major cuts we had to make in the early 1990s,” Board President Linda Blum said previously. “We certainly don’t want to go back to that.”
Northmont is not the only district who is requesting new funds. Beavercreek, Oakwood, Jefferson Twp. and Huber Heights are all seeking new funds. Oakwood is seeking funds to improve the district’s two elementary schools, while Beavercreek hopes to build a new high school. Jefferson Twp. and Huber Heights are seeking operating funds.
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