Clinton-Massie Local Schools do many things well. However, consider that an $8 million property tax increase is about a 25 percent increase in school property tax. While some will represent the need is only a few dollars per month, to determine how your school tax bill will change, take last year’s school tax times 125 percent.

No school received less state money than last year. In fact, CM will receive about $185,000 more state foundation money in 2018 than in 2017.

In FY 2017 all operating expenses were paid for through the present system of local/state funding. “Leftover money” of $321,845 was used to purchase permanent improvement items that cost $368,481, which resulted in the end-of-year deficit of $46,636. See Ohio Department of Education Form SM-2.

Congratulations to management for operating in a way that can divert more than $320,000 from operating expense and thereby fund necessary and appropriate permanent improvements, like the one-to-one technology for all students in grades 6-12, which cost $244,000. While computer upgrades are important in today’s world, they hardly force Emergency status upon a district. Those same $320,000 of permanent improvement expenses will not occur next year.

Everyone should understand that CM does not, and will not, have an operating deficit in 2018 of $1.6 million.

Check http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Finance-and-Funding/School-Payment-Reports/State-Funding-For-Schools/Traditional-Public-School-Funding .

Bill Settlemyre

Clarksville