March, 2012 Emergency Levy: An Overview

Issue #8 is a new 5-year Emergency Operating Levy for the Grand Valley Local Schools.
It will generate $765,000 per year which equals 4.9 mills.
These funds will be used to pay for normal operating expenses of the district, including programs, support staff, textbooks, supplies, technology, utilities, fuel and services.
Collections from this levy will begin in January, 2013.

The following adjustments have already been made or are planned:

Over $1.2M in cuts have been made over the past 4 years, $650,000 in the past year alone

All staff have agreed to a 0% salary adjustment for the next 2 years

All staff now contribute toward their insurance premium

Implementation of Pay to Participate and an increase for the 2012/2013 school year

Elimination of Freshman Sports

Reduction of 11 Staff positions and 16 supplemental contracts

Elimination of After School Enrichment Programs

Buses are filled to capacity to reduce routes

In late 2011 district officials refunded (refinanced) the debt on the new school to save taxpayers over $1M over the next 13 years. The original 7.9 mill bond issue is now being collected at 5.3 mills--a reduction of 33% of the original millage.

Elementary special classes like Music, Art, Library and Physical Education will be eliminated for the 2012/2013 school year due to the November, 2011 levy failure. The goal is to reinstate these programs once adequate funds are available.

District officials reduced the millage on the bond issue in January, 2011 by 2 mills to reduce burden on the district taxpayers

One-Time State Stimulus Funding sources will dry up after this year: $384,535 in FY 2010, $472,586 in FY 2011, $327,876 in FY 2012 and zero in FY 2013

Elimination of Tangible Personal Property Tax reimbursement to the district by the State: $390,795 in FY 2011, $162,077 in FY 2012, $4,265 in FY 2013 and zero in FY 2014

Student Success

School districts rely on local support to create and maintain programs for their students. This comes in the form of PTO's, Booster Groups, Community Groups and local taxpayers who provide the greatest financial support. We have relied on this support since Grand Valley's inception in 1950 and have not received additional funds from any new operating levies since 1992--20 years now. School District officials want to keep the programs and activities that currently exist in our school system. To do that we need the support of our community.

Please Vote YES on Issue #8 on March 6th.