District faces uncertain future

Editor's note: Joseph Jones is a Register correspondent representing vermiliondaily.com. VERMILION — Officials representing Vermilion Schools are, once again, asking voters this November to approve a new bond levy aimed at repairing and upgrading facilities across all three 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 that the levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $137 per year. It breaks down to just above $11 per month. What would be improved? 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. More specifically, at: • Vermilion High School, plans call for renovating the science wing and media center, adding a new career-tech shop and replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system • Sailorway Middle School, improvements would include window replacements, a new drainage system, an elevator upgrade and resurfaced playgrounds. • Vermilion Elementary School, the district intends to replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, fix sidewalks, resurface the playground and build a new bus garage. Athletic projects include resurfacing the tennis courts and completing the wrestling room in the field house. What's at stake? Justin Klingshirn, the district's treasurer and chief financial officer, previously told the Erie County commissioners that, without new funding, 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, 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% • Allow ballot measures to remove inside millage Meanwhile House Joint Resolution 6 would cap property taxes at 1.25% of property value, below current local averages. Proponents, opponents make their cases Supporters of the levy argue that passing it now ensures Vermilion schools remain safe and functional with modernized facilities that can support career and technical programs. Opponents said 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, then 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. Second chance at success? This marks the second attempt this year that administrators have placed a bond issue on a ballot. Back in May, voters soundly rejected the district's proposed 30-year $47 million bond levy in an election. With nearly 60% of locals voting "no," the levy called for a 3.91-mill property tax to support construction, renovations and facility improvements throughout the district. If it did receive approval, the $47 million levy would cost the homeowner of a $100,000 home about $137 a year. This new levy attempt, when factoring in the reasons and costs, essentially mirrors what voters turned down a few months ago.