VERMILION — The Vermilion Board of Education voted Monday night to approve a resolution beginning the process of placing a renewal levy before voters on the November 2026 ballot following discussion about school funding, Ohio tax law changes and growing financial pressures facing the district.
During the meeting, Treasurer and CFO Justin Klingshirn presented an overview of the proposed levy renewal and recent changes under Ohio House Bill 129, legislation affecting how certain school levies are calculated under the state’s “20-mill floor.”
The levy itself is not a new tax. According to district documents, voters originally approved the operating levy in 2020. If renewed in November, it would continue generating roughly $4.25 million annually for district operating expenses for another five years.
Why Officials Say The Renewal Matters
Klingshirn spent a significant amount of time attempting to simplify how school millage and property tax calculations work.
“One of the biggest mysteries behind property taxes and millage is what does the math look like to calculate this stuff,” Klingshirn said during his presentation.
In plain terms, district officials said the renewal could help reduce tax pressure created by Ohio’s previous school funding formula.
Klingshirn explained that recent changes under House Bill 129 allow the district’s existing fixed-sum levy to now count differently under the state’s 20-mill floor calculation.
In simple terms, he said the change removes part of a state tax adjustment that previously added roughly 3.5 mills onto the district’s effective tax calculation.
Presentation slides shown Monday stated the district’s effective rate under the previous structure was calculated at roughly 26 mills. Under the updated House Bill 129 structure, the district said the effective rate would fall to roughly 22.6 mills.
District officials said the change represents roughly $1.8 million connected to the previous calculation method.
Klingshirn also explained that one mill currently generates roughly $544,000 for Vermilion Schools based on taxable residential and agricultural property values throughout the district in Erie and Lorain counties.
District Discusses Financial Pressures
Financial reports presented Monday showed the district remains stable overall financially, with roughly $27.2 million in General Fund revenue through April and approximately $23.5 million in total cash across all district funds.
At the same time, district officials acknowledged rising operational pressures, including utilities, maintenance and food service costs.
Treasurer reports presented during the meeting showed food service cash reserves have declined significantly over the past two years. Klingshirn said the district may eventually need to either increase meal prices or transfer additional General Fund money into food service operations because of rising costs.
The board also approved a project to replace five aging rooftop HVAC units at Vermilion High School at a cost of roughly $191,000.
District officials said the units are approximately 20 years old and becoming increasingly expensive to maintain.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Program Cuts
Later during public participation, several students, parents and community members addressed the board regarding recent cuts involving jazz band and pep band programs.
Vermilion High School junior Tamlin Thomas spoke on behalf of band students, describing the programs as important outlets for students outside the academic grading environment.
“It’s been deeply upsetting with a lot of us,” Thomas said.
Parent and musician Summer Sylvieus told the board the loss of the programs felt like “a gut punch,” arguing the ensembles provide students with performance opportunities and experiences not offered elsewhere in the traditional curriculum.
“These programs are not solitary pursuits,” Sylvieus said. “They’re relationship-centered experiences that help students really feel a sense of belonging.”
Former Vermilion teacher and resident Rusty Pearce also spoke in support of the programs while acknowledging concerns many residents have about taxes.
“My question to the board is, are these cuts across the board?” Pearce asked. “Can we reconsider what’s being done?”
Following public comments, Superintendent Wes Weaver responded that reductions and cost-saving measures were occurring across multiple areas of the district and were not isolated to music programs.
“I’m a retired person on a fixed income and you think I don’t know about property taxes. Oh, yes I do,” Pearce said. “Have I ever not voted for a levy? That’ll never happen.”