Chardon Local Schools is a district serving 3,300 students at six schools. The District’s 2010-11 budget was almost $34 million, with a third of that coming from the State. The district’s revenue has been in decline, and in 2011, they were forced to cope with the loss of another $2.5 million thanks to a two-year state budget that reduced funding for education by $1.8 billion.

In addition to state budget cuts and lower property tax revenues, the district cites unfunded state mandates such as curriculum changes and online testing requirements that force the purchase of new textbooks, computers and software as a drain on resources.

Chardon has already made severe cuts. Nearly $6.5 in spending was eliminated in part through salary freezes and health insurance contribution increases. The District has also made cuts to fine arts, music, business, technology, foreign language and electives. Yet the district still faces a $700,000 deficit this year, expected to grow to $3 million in 2013-14. [Read more...]

Located in Orwell in Ashtabula County, Grand Valley is a district of 1,363 students attending the elementary, middle and high schools. In 2010-11, the District’s budget was $13.9 million.

In the 2012-13 state budget, authored by Governor Kasich and endorsed by the majority GOP legislature, Grand Valley lost $680,000.

The district has been tightening its belt for years, but the state funding cuts hit hard. In all, the district has cut $1.2 million in spending in the past four years and $650,000 in the last year alone. Even without collective bargaining reform, the district was able to achieve savings by implementing a salary freeze and asking employees to pay more for their health insurance, but it wasn’t enough.

Recent measures to cut costs hit students directly. 27 staff, including teachers were eliminated. Pay-to-play fees were imposed and then increased. Bus routes were eliminated or combined.

Even worse, the District cancelled music, art, library and physical education at the elementary level as well as coaches, weekend and after school programs, special ed teachers and career advisers at all levels.

On November 6, the district will be seeking a 5-year, 4.9-mill emergency operating levy. If passed, the levy will generate $815,000 per year and increase tax bills by$150 on a $100,000 home.

If the levy fails, further cuts will be required. But given what has already been cut, it’s hard to imagine what else is left.

This is our first in a series of 20 district levy profiles. Check back every day for a new profile from now until election day.