Buckeye less severely affected financially by House Bill 186 than expected

YORK TWP. — A change the state made to property taxes will have less of an impact on Buckeye Schools than originally anticipated. Treasurer Mark Donnelly gave the district's latest five-year forecast at the Buckeye Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. "The state came up with new laws on how they're going to reduce our funding, property tax-wise," he said. "The interpretation that many treasurers received was fire and brimstone, claw-back taxes, etcetera, and there is a reduction we will experience." House Bill 186 caps outside millage growth to the level of inflation rather than property tax value increases. Donnelly said the net decrease in the district's property tax revenues for fiscal year 2027 is $528,000, which is less than the anticipated $1.8 million. "It's much more manageable. Now, we still need to tighten our belts," he said. "We still need to be watching what we spend and manage our budget. We're not on a cliff." House Bill 309 gave county budget commissions greater authority. Earlier this year, the Medina County Budget Commission submitted the original school budgets to the state, so Buckeye did not have to cut the $2.5 million in funding that the commission previously requested. "We didn't have unnecessary or excessive revenues or cash balances," Donnelly said. "We need every dime of that. We have many, many needs in our district like capital needs, personnel needs and things we have to do for our kids." Board member Kim Cecelich said she believes it is likely that the budget commission will ask for more cuts next time, so the district should keep that in mind when it comes to finances. "The budget commission will meet in February," Donnelly said. "Whatever number they pull out, I would argue that we need that money. I would file a tax appeal the next day with the (Board of Tax Appeals) in Columbus and see where that goes." Buckeye has an emergency levy that's expiring on Dec. 31, 2027. Donnelly said it is possible, but not guaranteed, that the district will not put a renewal for the levy on the ballot. "We need some things to fall in place first," he said. "We need some belt-tightening. We need to manage our money well. We need staff to understand the position we're in, and we all work together as a team. We can get there." The treasurer's office is looking for ways to reduce expenses while providing quality educational and extracurricular opportunities for students, Donnelly said. "At some point, costs go up, so you will need additional support from the community," he said. "The goal is to not ask for a renewal, go forward without it and manage very well between now and that point." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.