State Budget to Cut Strongsville Schools' Funding by $340,000

Now that Gov. John Kasich’s $112 billion operating budget is in effect, the will see about $340,000 in state funding losses over the upcoming 2011-12 school year.

That's the bad news. 

The good news is the six-figure cut is about $1.3 million less than what was originally proposed by Kasich this past March. 

In the GOP leader’s original state budget proposal, Strongsville was eying a $1.7 million loss in funding for next year alone. And in early May, after weeks of deliberation within the Ohio House, state representatives predicted that Strongsville would lose about $1.5 million. 

However, when the budget came before the Ohio Senate in June, the district got a break when the state unexpectedly received $841 million more in tax revenue versus this time last year due to 13 consecutive months of job growth. 

The senate was able to take about $115 million of that newfound revenue and put it into schools and municipalities to help soften the blow to some districts and cities. 

“We were under no illusion that the district would not receive any cuts,” Strongsville City Schools Treasurer Bill Parkinson said. “We knew that we were going to receive some. We were somewhat surprised at how steep the proposal was in March, but as time went on, it got a little better. So, to come out only $340,000 under where we were last year, that’s good news.” 

The district still faces millions in revenue shortfalls through 2015, and is seeking to pass a on August 2 to help close the gaps. 

If passed, the levy would generate $40 million over the next four years, and would cost Strongsville homeowners $211 a year for every $100,000 in valuation. 

If the levy fails this summer, then the board would most likely vote to put it on the ballot again this November, board member David Gusman said.