Author: Stacie Raterman

Many people have seen the City of Hilliard develop a new comprehensive plan.  According to their web page, they launched Hilliard by Design to significantly update the city’s 2011 comprehensive plan.

While we congratulate the City Leaders for creating such a forward-thinking document, we hear that some in our community need more clarification on what the city can do with land owned by the school district. The short answer is they can not buy or sell property owned by the Board of Education without the Board’s approval, nor have they ever tried to. The Board appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with our city partners on projects that impact the schools.

Currently, the Hilliard School Board of Education will continue working on the District’s Master Facilities Plan, or MFP. An MFP is the product of a data-driven process that guides capital planning decisions over the next 5-10 years. The process takes into account community and stakeholder feedback, which results in transparent decisions about:

• Educational programs
• Facility use
• Capital investment

This MFP will address many fundamental questions:

• What kind of schools will best prepare students and inspire them to achieve their full potential for the future?
• How many students will attend our schools in five years? Ten years?
• What is the correct number, size, and location of schools to best serve these students?
• Where do we need new schools?
• Which current buildings should be replaced, expanded, modernized, or repurposed?
• What is the cost and schedule to make these changes?

You can click here to access the web page to learn more about the District’s MFP process. If you want to participate in the process moving forward, please email us by clicking here.

 

You may have read that all Franklin County residents’ properties have been assessed this year.  This part of a regular procedure ensures fair taxation based on area changes.

In Hilliard, residential property values have increased by an average of 34%. Residents may wonder if their taxes will increase at the same rate or if the school district will gain extra funds. The answer to both is no.

A law passed in 1976, House Bill (HB) 920, protects homeowners from significant tax increases by limiting growth on taxes. While rates went up, each property owner will be impacted differently.  You can click here to access the Franklin County Auditor’s web page to search for your specific property.

HB 920l also prevents school districts from collecting extra revenue from rising property values unless approved by voters. An exception is the “inside millage,” or the 4.45 mills of property tax that Hilliard receives that grows with inflation, which may fluctuate with property assessments.

Hilliard maintains its reputation as an excellent place to live, and our top-rated schools contribute to this success. We remain committed to providing value for your investment in education. For questions about school finances, please click here for our Fiscal reports on the District web page.

A significant HVAC chiller project at Darby High School is underway, along with many other summer projects.  This project has an estimated cost of $270,000 and is funded through the support of taxpayers through Permanent Improvement dollars.  It exemplifies our commitment to maintaining and enhancing a safe learning environment for our students and staff.

Our team is fully committed to completing this project diligently and efficiently. We recognize the impact it will have on our school community and are confident that the upgraded HVAC chiller will significantly enhance the overall learning experience for everyone involved.

We look forward to the successful completion of this project and many other summer projects for the positive impact it will have on our schools. Together, we are investing in the future of our students and ensuring the longevity of our educational facilities.

In one Summer School opportunity, parents and students from five different elementary schools both attend classes together.  They begin the evening with a shared family meal and then move into break-out groups.  Taught by Hilliard teachers, students receive math and literacy instruction while parents learn about strategies they can use to support their students at home.  The families also receive resources they can take home and continue to learn together all summer.  These classes help build relationships with our families and teachers, which ultimately help students become stronger learners.

Join us in congratulating the 2023 Hilliard City Schools Retirees.  We hope the next chapter in their lives brings joy and excitement, and our entire community appreciates all they have done to help our students prepare to be Ready for Tomorrow.

This is year, we are recognizing 40 retirees from across the district who gave hundreds and hundreds of years of service to Hilliard City Schools.  Thank you, you have been an important part of this school district, and we are excited to acknowledge your contribution to the success and development of literally thousands of students.

 

Kimberly Nees                      Leslie Salamony

David Speaks                       Sharon Thobe

Julie Volbert                          Lee Wilkinson

Lynn Wilson                          Todd Heinlen

Betsy Bargar                         Kathryn Corson

Jean Shackle                        David Swallie

Gaye Cline                            Joseph Burke

Julie Cannell                        Sandra Nagy

John Riggs                            Richard Thorpe

Andi Cunningham                Jodi Korbas

Stephanie Miles                   Angela Stafford

Gregory Harrison                 Amy Smedley

Barry Bay

Twice yearly, Ohio’s public schools must approve a 5-year financial forecast. Hilliard Schools’ latest forecast was approved on May 18, showing careful planning amidst potential revenue challenges. Here are some essential details: 

 

The Current Revenue Landscape

• State Funding: The Fair School Funding Plan, enacted in 2021, aims for more equitable funding for Ohio schools. The state aid is determined based on 60% local property valuation and 40% household income. However, as the plan was only partially funded in the last budget cycle, it’s still uncertain what it will mean for Hilliard Schools. Early projections suggest flat state funding for our district.
• House Bill 920: This 1976 law prevents districts from collecting increased funds even as property values rise. Despite this, Hilliard Schools has managed its funds wisely, not seeking additional operating money since 2016.
• Inflation: Rising inflation rates put added pressure on school budgets. Combined with HB 920, this likely leads to deficit spending as expenditures outpace revenues. However, schools are expected to manage their cash balances wisely and are prohibited from operating with negative cash balances.

 

Managing Administrative Costs

Contrary to rumors, Hilliard Schools has minimized administrative costs, even eliminating seven administrative positions over the past three years. The cut positions save the district close to one million dollars a year. This places us with the lowest administrative expenditure per pupil in Franklin County.

 

Deficit Spending and the Forecast

Deficit spending reflects the challenges of rising costs and restricted property tax growth rather than financial mismanagement. Hilliard Schools has carefully built a cash balance over the years, which is now utilized as costs exceed revenues. This prudent fiscal planning allows us to stay off the ballot asking taxpayers for more money only when it is absolutely needed.

 

We appreciate our community’s support as we navigate these financial uncertainties. We are committed to keeping you updated on our financial status. You can find our latest financial reports here.