One year ago this School Board requested that local citizens approve an operational expense fund increase. A ?¼ % increases in the School District Income Tax that area residents pay. At that time Issue #11 promotional fliers stated on page -3-
Headed School Financing 101
?“How one student affects the financial picture of our school district.?”
?“Based on a $150,000 home value with $60,000 per year household income adding only 1 child:
- numerous calculations then lead to a statement that -
A Net annual loss per pupil of $1,813.00 would be realized.
During this same period of time, an incumbent board member stated,
?“A new high school will be needed in five to eight years, and a new junior high school probably will be needed sooner.?”
Early in the summer of 2000 Fairfield County Officials held a number of public information meetings regarding area growth. At these meetings copies of information were available about a Cost of Communities Services (COCS) study conducted by Allen Prindle, a professor in the Economics Department of Otterbein College.
In this study figures for various categories of land use were compared to their taxes generated in the ability to support the various community?’s infrastructures.
(Schools, roads, police, and fire to name a few)
Farmland?’s COCS ranged from $0.05 to $0.17 for every dollar generated in taxes collected.
Commercial/Industrial COCS ranged from $0.27 to $0.51 for every dollar generated in taxes collected.
Residential Development COCS ranged from $1.10 to $1.15 for every tax dollar collected.
This study concludes that growing communities need to balance both commercial/industrial developments with residential development or they will experience higher service expenditures compared to revenue streams.
Data from the Pickerington School District indicate that our residents were in the same predicament 10-12 years ago when bond issues for the current high school were being discussed. In that time we have built or renovated 6 facilities, a rate of one every two years. It has the appearance that we?’re on an endless treadmill, with a recurring cycle of building needed facilities as well as for additional operating funds.
During the fall of ?’99 one of the best statements of a then gubernatorial candidate was, ?“A tax increase without solving the problem is an unacceptable solution.?”
Issue #14, the commitment of $77.5 million dollars for the construction of another (2) school facilities and an increase of 3 mills of property tax for operational funds doesn?’t make sound financial sense in light of our ever perpetuating level of additional residential zoning, building and construction. It is clear to me that what we are doing is not sustainable.
As an area resident I?’m tired of the treadmill.
The real question confronting our community is not whether, but how we will grow and change. This challenge requires a vision for the future, with elected officials and citizens changing our habits of the past. Moving from countless additional residential subdivisions toward a dramatic increase in viable Industrial and Commercial ?“neighbors?” within our school district boundaries will only take place if our #1 Industry ?– The Pickerington Local School District ?– takes the lead role. As School Board members you will serve today?’s and tomorrows students best by being the lead voice and drive in this change.
Bob Harding
This is an accurate copy of my PLSD School Board comments of 10/16/00, with facts and noted references. This clearly differs from what was reported in the ''This Week in Pickerington'' 10/18 page -3- article, dispite the fact the reporter was handed a copy of my comments. Why??
Headed School Financing 101
?“How one student affects the financial picture of our school district.?”
?“Based on a $150,000 home value with $60,000 per year household income adding only 1 child:
- numerous calculations then lead to a statement that -
A Net annual loss per pupil of $1,813.00 would be realized.
During this same period of time, an incumbent board member stated,
?“A new high school will be needed in five to eight years, and a new junior high school probably will be needed sooner.?”
Early in the summer of 2000 Fairfield County Officials held a number of public information meetings regarding area growth. At these meetings copies of information were available about a Cost of Communities Services (COCS) study conducted by Allen Prindle, a professor in the Economics Department of Otterbein College.
In this study figures for various categories of land use were compared to their taxes generated in the ability to support the various community?’s infrastructures.
(Schools, roads, police, and fire to name a few)
Farmland?’s COCS ranged from $0.05 to $0.17 for every dollar generated in taxes collected.
Commercial/Industrial COCS ranged from $0.27 to $0.51 for every dollar generated in taxes collected.
Residential Development COCS ranged from $1.10 to $1.15 for every tax dollar collected.
This study concludes that growing communities need to balance both commercial/industrial developments with residential development or they will experience higher service expenditures compared to revenue streams.
Data from the Pickerington School District indicate that our residents were in the same predicament 10-12 years ago when bond issues for the current high school were being discussed. In that time we have built or renovated 6 facilities, a rate of one every two years. It has the appearance that we?’re on an endless treadmill, with a recurring cycle of building needed facilities as well as for additional operating funds.
During the fall of ?’99 one of the best statements of a then gubernatorial candidate was, ?“A tax increase without solving the problem is an unacceptable solution.?”
Issue #14, the commitment of $77.5 million dollars for the construction of another (2) school facilities and an increase of 3 mills of property tax for operational funds doesn?’t make sound financial sense in light of our ever perpetuating level of additional residential zoning, building and construction. It is clear to me that what we are doing is not sustainable.
As an area resident I?’m tired of the treadmill.
The real question confronting our community is not whether, but how we will grow and change. This challenge requires a vision for the future, with elected officials and citizens changing our habits of the past. Moving from countless additional residential subdivisions toward a dramatic increase in viable Industrial and Commercial ?“neighbors?” within our school district boundaries will only take place if our #1 Industry ?– The Pickerington Local School District ?– takes the lead role. As School Board members you will serve today?’s and tomorrows students best by being the lead voice and drive in this change.
Bob Harding
This is an accurate copy of my PLSD School Board comments of 10/16/00, with facts and noted references. This clearly differs from what was reported in the ''This Week in Pickerington'' 10/18 page -3- article, dispite the fact the reporter was handed a copy of my comments. Why??
