This is the second in a series of videos about the Field Local Schools levy.
Transcript:
Dave Heflinger: Hi and thanks for watching. This is the second in a series of videos about the Field Local Schools levy campaign that is on the May ballot. This video is about “How did we get here?”. Many of you know, that there was a period of time where Field schools were on the ballot, it seemed like, all the time. We needed new money, and you were told, that if we didn’t get new money, the district was going to run out. Well, that was true when it was said, but due to stabilizing the finances, we were able to, not only hold that off, but to go off the ballot for a year and a half. We were able to do that because of some different financial practices. Todd, can you explain what happened.
Todd Carpenter: Sure, Dave. Well, there were a few reasons why we were able to stabilize the district’s finances. We were able to receive some one-time monies, the district was able to procure a little over a million dollars by changing health-care providers. Also, approximately $500,000 from the previous Treasurer who allocated money to the wrong fund and also, a yearly savings of approximately $800,000 from closing the Falcon Academy.
Dave Heflinger: Those measures helped us be off the ballot for a while and not have to be back on until this past November. In November, we had a 6.5 Mil issue on the ballot and that issue was not successful. Now, some of you might wonder, if it was 6.5 in November, why is it 8.3 Mil now? That answer is because tax collections work on a calendar-year basis and when we change from 2016 to 2017, it took a higher millage rate to get us out to our goal of being financially stable through Fiscal Year 2021. Remember, it has been 26 years since the Field Local Schools have had new operating money. You have passed issues during that time to build the two new elementary schools and you have renewed the operating issues that exist but 1991 was the last time we had new operating money. I think, by any standard, that’s a demonstration of sound fiscal practices.
Thank you for watching and look for more videos soon.