Piqua City Schools Good Schools……Good Value Piqua City School District Permanent Improvement Levy Renewal Presentation May 6, 2014 Superintendent of Schools: Rick Hanes Treasurer of Schools: Jeremie Hittle

Permanent Improvement Levy The Piqua City Board of Education has placed on the May 6, 2014 ballot a zero tax increase renewal of the existing permanent improvement levy. The zero tax increase renewal levy is a five year levy which was originally passed by Piqua voters in 1994 and expires December 31, This levy currently generates $692,986 annually.

Permanent Improvement Levy What is a Permanent Improvement Levy? –Ohio Revised code outlines the allowable use of funds from a P.I. levy “Permanent improvement” means any property, asset, or improvement with an estimated life or usefulness of five years or more. By law, funds generated from a P.I. levy CANNOT be used to pay District operating expenses such as teacher salaries and benefits.

How Does Piqua Use P.I. Funds? Piqua High School Preventative Maintenance –The building is 33 years old. The P.I. funds are used to keep it safe and maintained and the cost will only increase over time HVAC Project –Over the next 13 years the district has a debt payment of $302,000 for the upgrades made to the high school Piqua Junior High Preventative Maintenance –The building is 15 years old The P.I. funds are used to keep it safe and maintained and the cost will only increase over time

How Does Piqua Use P.I. Funds? School Buses Preventative Maintenance –The district has 30 buses and 21 of those buses run a regular daily route. Maintenance is key to keeping our fleet of buses healthy. –Currently, the district is on a 15 year replacement cycle for buses. New Buses –The replacement cycle means that the district purchases 2 new buses every year. –A standard new bus can cost $100,000 and handicap accessible buses are even more expensive.

What is the impact? What happens if the levy doesn’t pass? We will need to have budget cuts to the general fund of at least $692,986. If the levy doesn’t pass it would directly impact our classrooms by increasing class size and providing less services to our students. The $302,000 debt payments for the HVAC system upgrades at the high school will come out of the operating budget.

What is the impact? $200,000+ for new buses would also come out of the operating budget or our bus fleet would age beyond its life expectancy Preventative maintenance would be reduced and repairs made on an emergency basis, reducing the life expectancy of our buildings

P.I. Levy Benefits You probably wouldn’t find a picture of a new HVAC system very exciting, but the students and staff who benefit from having the new system are thankful. Ongoing maintenance and upkeep of our district infrastructure isn’t as fun as a new building, but it is critical to keeping our buildings in good condition.

P.I. Levy Renewal Again, the request is a renewal and is not a new or additional tax. The renewal of the permanent improvement levy will maintain current funding levels to protect community assets with a zero school district revenue increase. Not one dollar of this money is going to Columbus or Washington. Every dollar raised in Piqua, stays in Piqua.

Piqua City Schools Good Schools……Good Value Piqua City Schools Good Schools……Good Value Progress Is Asking for Renewals Not Additional Dollars 1.Piqua City School District operates below state averages both for expenses and revenue. 2.Piqua City School District operational expenses fall in the bottom quarter when compared to schools in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. 3.Piqua City School District has operated in the black for the past six years while earning an “Excellent” school rating. 4.Like any home owner we need to set aside dollars to maintain our facilities. The permanent improvement fund is our set aside dollars for these maintenance expenses, both expected and unexpected.

Piqua City Schools Good Schools……Good Value The permanent improvement levy has been put to good use with great results and is critical in maintaining the great things happening in Piqua City Schools!