Levy would upgrade 3 campuses
District faces uncertainty amid state funding challenges
VERMILION — This November, officials representing Vermilion Schools are asking voters to approve a new bond levy aimed at repairing and upgrading facilities across all three district campuses.
The proposal comes as aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance and rising costs continue to strain the district’s budget.
But even if voters say, “Yes,” district officials warn that ongoing changes at the state level could complicate the financial picture in the years ahead.
The district estimates a $100,000 homeowner would pay about $137 per year.
What improvements? Where?
Justin Klingshirn, the district’s treasurer and chief financial officer, said, if approved, the levy would fund a comprehensive list of building improvements, including electrical and plumbing upgrades, roof replacements, renovated restrooms and updates to science and media spaces.
Here’s a look at specific improvements targeted at each campus:
• At Vermilion High School, plans call for renovating the science wing and media center, adding a new career-tech shop and replacing the HVAC system.
• At Sailorway Middle School, improvements would include window replacement, new drainage systems, an elevator upgrade and resurfaced playgrounds.
• At Vermilion Elementary School, the district intends to replace HVAC units, fix sidewalks, resurface the playground and build a new bus garage.
Meanwhile, athletic projects include resurfacing the tennis courts and completing the wrestling room in the field house.
What’s at stake?
Klingshirn — when recently speaking with Erie County commissioners — said without new funding that the district’s ability to maintain facilities and retain staff will become increasingly limited.
Federal pandemic relief dollars that once helped cover learning recovery and capital costs have expired, leaving local taxpayers as the primary funding source.
Klingshirn said the proposed levy is meant to stabilize the district’s finances and protect against major facility failures in the coming years.
At the same time, lawmakers in Columbus are advancing a series of bills that could reshape how schools receive and retain revenue.
According to Klingshirn’s analysis, if all current and pending legislation were enacted, then Vermilion could lose up to $23 million in total funding or more than 80% of its annual budget.
Among the most significant measures is House Bill 96, which allows county commissioners to reduce school funding by doubling tax credits, costing Vermilion an estimated $784,000 per year.
Other bills under consideration include House bills 420-422, which would eliminate emergency levies, raise the bond passage threshold from 50% to 66% and allow ballot measures to remove inside millage.
House Joint Resolution 6 would cap property taxes at 1.25% of property value, below current local averages.
Campaiging at the local level
Supporters of the levy argue that approving it now ensures Vermilion Schools remains safe and functional with modernized facilities that can support career and technical programs.
Opponents say the timing is poor, pointing to high property taxes, inflation and uncertainty surrounding state reforms that could reduce local funding authority.
If state proposals move forward, some residents worry the new levy’s benefits may be short-lived.
If the levy fails, district leaders say Vermilion could face delayed maintenance, rising repair costs, and the risk of further cuts as state policies evolve.
The levy will appear on the November 2025 ballot. Voters are being asked not only whether to fund critical improvements to school facilities, but also how much confidence to place in the stability of Ohio’s education funding system.
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