School Funding: How to Help
IMPORTANT UPDATE: State Budget Process Complete - Thank You for Your Advocacy
Dear Solon Schools Community,
Governor DeWine signed Ohio's budget bill late last night, and the important information impacting the Solon Schools has now come into sharper focus. This was the most challenging budget cycle for our district since our days fighting against the loss of TPP funding. Thank you to everyone who took the time to reach out and support our schools. Your voice made a difference.
Key Victory: You helped to keep the inside millage provision in HB 335 out of the budget. HB335 is currently tabled but it could be revived in the legislative session this fall. We will closely monitor this and other bills by the legislature and keep you updated if your advocacy is needed.
The overall outcome of this 2-year budget will be net positive for our district: We will receive more than we did in fiscal year 2025, and the final budget retained performance-based bonus funding that will recognize our students' exceptional academic achievement and growth on the Ohio report cards.
Ongoing Challenge: However, Solon Schools will remain among the districts most reliant on local community support, with 95% of our funds still derived from local taxes. We will need our community to remain engaged as property tax relief discussions continue in Columbus this fall.
As outlined in our Strategic Plan, we encourage you to read the regular Finance Facts information articles we share as well. Thank you again for your ongoing support of the Solon Schools.
Update issued following Governor DeWine's budget signing
🚨 FUNDING ALERT UPDATE: MORE LEGISLATORS TO CONTACT!
Conference Committee Process Begins - Expand Your Advocacy Now
First, thank you to all the families who have let us know that they have contacted Representative Robinson and Senator Cirino. Your contacts are being noticed.
The Conference Committee deliberations officially begin June 17. We need to expand our contacts to the legislators who have been selected to serve on the Finance Conference Committee:
Finance Conference Committee Members - CONTACT NOW
House Finance Committee Members
🎯 Rep. Brian Stewart (House Finance Committee Chair)
Phone: 614-466-1464
Email: Rep12@ohiohouse.gov
🎯 Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (Ranking Member House Finance Committee)
Phone: 614-466-3350
Email: Rep16@ohiohouse.gov
🎯 Rep. Mike Dovilla (House Finance Committee Vice Chair)
Phone: 614-466-4895
Email: rep17@ohiohouse.gov
Senate Finance Committee Members
🎯 Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (Ranking Member Senate Finance Committee)
Phone: 614-466-5204
Email: hicks-hudson@ohiosenate.gov
🎯 Sen. Brian Chavez (Senate Finance Committee Vice Chair)
Phone: 614-466-6508
Email: chavez@ohiosenate.gov
⏰ Our Time to Act is Short
Please take the time to call or email the Finance Conference Committee members listed above as soon as you can. If you have not yet contacted Rep. Robinson and Sen. Cirino, please do so. Sen. Cirino, as the Senate Finance Committee Chair, is on the Finance Conference Committee as well.
We need to help the lawmakers understand the devastating impact this would have on our students and our community.
Your Voice and Advocacy Can Make a Difference
Please read the information below for the facts as well as talking points and a sample letter to help you contact legislators.
🚨 URGENT: Two Critical Updates on School Funding
Immediate Action Needed to Protect Solon Schools
Please Read Both Important Updates Below
While we have somewhat encouraging news about progress in Ohio's state budget process, a new legislative threat has emerged that could undo all of our advocacy gains and devastate school funding across Ohio and most urgently, our own Solon Schools. Your immediate action is needed.
Legislative Update 1: Critical Alert - HB 335 Threatens Millions in Solon School Funding
As we navigate the state budget process, a new threat has emerged this week that could have devastating implications for Solon Schools and districts across Ohio. House Bill 335, dubbed the "Property Tax Relief NOW Act," represents one of the most sweeping overhauls of Ohio's property tax system in decades. Although framed as a property tax relief measure, it would significantly disrupt the financial stability of public school districts, including Solon.
The Real Impact on Solon
By eliminating inside millage, HB 335 would carve an enormous hole in Solon Schools budget, slashing just under $9 million (5.2 mills) in local school revenue while providing no state offset to replace these losses. This represents nearly 10% of our annual budget.
The bill also puts funding for Solon's safety forces at risk, calling for the elimination of more than $5 million in inside millage from the City of Solon and $.327 million from Glenwillow.
According to the bill, schools and cities would need to act fast to retain the funding for 2026. It is a terrible choice: The Solon Schools would ultimately need to place a 5.2 mill levy or school income tax of between .50% and .75% to retain the $8.896 million in annual revenue for next year or make deep cuts to educational programming and services for students to absorb that loss.
This bill essentially rewrites how property taxes work in Ohio and overrides decisions made by our community's voters. This legislation places our investments in our students at risk, undermining years of strategic financial management and community collaboration.
The Timing Risk
The timing couldn't be worse. This would force our district onto the ballot outside of our carefully planned levy cycle and the strategic discussions we've shared with our community through our planning process.
HB 335 provisions could be added to the state budget bill during the upcoming Conference Committee process, making this a critical time for advocacy. Much of the Conference Committee process occurs out of the public eye and very quickly. The compromise budget bill emerging from this process must be passed by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor by June 30.
Even as we have worked to secure more favorable terms for the Solon Schools in the Senate version of the budget bill, HB 335 represents a fundamental threat to the local control and voter-approved funding that supports our educational excellence. We are monitoring this legislation closely and aggressively advocating for the protection of our community's investment in Solon Schools with our state Representative Phil Robinson and our education association lobbyists. But we need your support and action now.
A Temporary Problem Doesn't Require Permanent Damage
Legislative Service Commission analysis shows Ohio's recent exceptional property value growth of 2021-24 reflects a temporary market condition and is already moderating. By 2026-28, value growth is expected to align more closely with inflation rates, per LSC.
Targeted relief can help the most vulnerable taxpayers in our community—especially seniors on fixed incomes—without dismantling the foundation of public education funding.
🎯 HOW YOU CAN HELP! Contact Our Legislators Now
Use these key talking points or our sample letter when reaching out to state lawmakers:
CALL or EMAIL and TELL THEM:
DON'T:
- Support HB 335 or put any parts of it into the state budget bill, especially eliminating inside millage
- Cut $8.896 million in inside mills from our Solon Schools
- Cut 10% of our Solon Schools annual revenue
- Jeopardize our schools, safety forces and libraries
- Force our community to choose between a new tax levy or school income tax and deep program/service cuts for students to absorb the nearly $9 million loss
DO:
- Take the time to plan with our communities for real reform that doesn't hurt schools, safety forces and libraries
- Enact targeted relief that can help the most vulnerable taxpayers in communities—especially seniors on fixed incomes—without dismantling the foundation of public education funding
- Listen to our community that we VALUE OUR SOLON SCHOOLS!
- Listen to our community that we SUPPORT OUR SOLON SCHOOLS!
📞 Contact Information:
Rep. Phil Robinson
Phone: (614) 644-6041
Email: rep19@ohiohouse.gov
📞 Contact Information:
Senator Jerry Cirino
Phone: (614) 644-7718
Email: Cirino@ohiosenate.gov
Other Actions:
- Stay Informed: Monitor our website for updates as this legislation moves through the process
- Spread the Word: Share this information with neighbors, family and friends who care about protecting our schools
HB 335 threatens to undo decades of careful planning and community investment in our students' success.
Legislative Update 2: Progress Through the Budget Process
We're cautiously encouraged to report progress as Ohio's state budget bill moves through the legislative process. The full Senate is poised to vote on its amended version of the budget bill (HB 96) released in the Senate Finance Committee at the end of last week, and this iteration is by far the most favorable for Solon Schools in terms of school funding.
Key Improvements in the Senate Version
The Senate amendments reflect the input provided by Superintendent Fred Bolden, Treasurer Tim Pickana, and our state education partners during our advocacy efforts with Senator Jerry Cirino and the Senate Finance Committee. Key changes include:
Increased Financial Flexibility: The cash balance cap has been increased to 50% (up from the House's 30%), with provisions allowing districts to carve out funds dedicated to capital improvement projects over a three-year period.
Funding Formula Restoration: The Senate restored the Cupp-Patterson school funding formula that was eliminated in the House version, though the baseline guarantee is now set at 2021 levels.
Performance-Based Funding: New provisions tie foundation funding directly to strong academic performance and accountability measures on Ohio's State Report Cards. For the first time, our state funding could potentially reflect our students' exceptional academic achievement and growth. Our students and staff work hard in their classrooms and our district's high Report Card scores reflect how well they have mastered the content and skills in the Ohio Learning Standards.
Funding Impact for Solon
Under the amended Senate version, Solon's per-pupil foundation aid funding would increase:
- Current funding: $1,113 per pupil
- FY 2026: $1,356 per pupil (+$167 increase)
- FY 2027: $1,475 per pupil (+$215 additional increase)
Additional Legislative Advocacy
Superintendent Fred Bolden along with other superintendents in Ohio House District 19 met with Representative Phil Robinson here in Solon on June 6 to discuss opportunities and challenges in the next phase of the budget process. Rep. Robinson will be sharing the key priorities achieved in the Senate version of the budget bill and other important Solon and education partner perspectives with the House Conference Committee negotiating team.
What's Next
The House and Senate versions of HB 96 currently differ significantly. The two versions are now in the intensive Conference Committee process where negotiating teams from the House and Senate will work to achieve a compromise bill. This fast-paced process occurs largely outside public view, but our education association partners and legislative representatives continue advocating on our behalf. The final compromise bill must pass in the House and Senate and be signed by the Governor by June 30.
Important Context
Our advocacy efforts continue as we work to ensure the final budget reflects the needs of our students and community. We're optimistic about the progress made so far in the process and remain committed to securing sustainable funding for Solon Schools.
However, even if the final budget emerges closest to the current Senate version with these potential improvements, Solon Schools will remain among the districts receiving the least state foundation aid funding per pupil in Ohio. We will continue to be among the districts most reliant on local community support to maintain our educational excellence.
The Bottom Line: Progress at Risk
While the Senate's amended version of the budget bill is net positive for our district, House Bill 335 threatens to undo all of this progress and more. The potential gains we've fought for in the budget process would be wiped out by HB 335's devastating cuts to local school funding.
We cannot allow months of careful advocacy and incremental progress to be destroyed by this rash proposal that would eliminate the financial stability we've worked years to build, cut nearly $9 million from our annual revenue, and force the district back to the ballot outside our strategic planning timeline.
This is why your voice matters now more than ever. Contact your legislators using the talking points above. Tell them to protect the progress we've made in the budget while rejecting the devastating cuts proposed in HB 335.
The future of Solon Schools—and the careful planning and community investment that has made our district excellent—depends on your advocacy right now.
Solon Schools: Navigating Ohio's State Budget Process
Advocating for Fiscal Stability and Local Control
Key Points at a Glance
- Solon Schools is actively working with state education partners and legislators to address concerning elements in Ohio's proposed state budget
- We're advocating for amendments to cash balance requirements that would preserve our district's carefully developed fiscal plans
- Senate Finance Committee Chair Jerry Cirino has invited our direct input as the legislature considers amendments
- Our financial reserves were strategically established to protect against legislative budget uncertainty during the TPP phase-out
- Our current cash balance reflects careful planning for $34 million in already-approved infrastructure improvements, with $14 million already spent and approximately $20 million being implemented over 2024-2026
Our Advocacy Efforts
As we pass the midpoint of Ohio's state budget process, Solon Schools' administration is working diligently behind the scenes to protect our district's financial stability. We are:
- Collaborating with statewide education partners and lobbyists
- Engaging directly with our elected representatives in the Ohio House and Senate
- Advocating for commonsense amendments that preserve local control
- Providing clear evidence to help legislators understand our strategic financial planning
- Suggesting modifications to ensure districts can maintain appropriate fiscal safeguards
Our Financial Journey
Building our district's financial safeguard required difficult decisions and collective sacrifice:
- Teaching staff accepted six years of base salary freezes
- Administrators accepted seven years of base salary freezes
- Our administrative team implemented numerous efficiencies and cost-saving measures
- Board members stood firm on fiscal responsibility and accountability
- Parents and community members supported our strategic plans and ballot initiatives
Throughout this process, we maintained transparency through our Strategic Plan and Finance Action Team, ensuring our community understood our strategy of building reserves as a TPP buffer while planning for future infrastructure needs.
Infrastructure Improvements
Our plan for the use of our cash balance includes important infrastructure improvements:
Air conditioning and exterior window/door replacement for Lewis and Roxbury
Security electronics, window laminate and PA systems at multiple schools
Roxbury parking lot addition to alleviate traffic on Solon Boulevard
LED lighting upgrades at Solon Middle School, Parkside Elementary and Orchard Middle School
Roof replacements at Lewis, Roxbury, and Parkside
Masonry restoration at Lewis, Roxbury, Parkside and Solon Middle School
HVAC upgrades at Solon Middle School and Parkside
Natatorium roof replacement and locker room HVAC upgrade
Turf field and fencing at Solon Middle School stadium
Turf field and lighting at Solon High School stadium
Turf field for Solon High School softball
Understanding Ohio's School District Cash Balances
As we navigate Ohio's complex educational funding landscape, it's important to understand the state's unique funding system and why school districts maintain cash balances:
Ohio's School Funding Framework
- Ohio's K-12 funding relies on a shared responsibility between the state and each local community
- Districts receive funding from two primary sources: local property taxes and state funding determined by Ohio's school funding formula (Which Solon receives the state minimum)
- Each district's state share is unique based on enrollment, property wealth, and community income
- This creates significant variation in both state funding levels and local tax revenue across Ohio's 600+ school districts
The House Bill 920 Effect
A key aspect of Ohio's school funding system is House Bill 920, which affects how districts manage their finances:
- HB 920 prevents districts from automatically receiving more revenue when property values increase due to inflation
- When property values rise during reappraisal, tax rates are rolled back for districts so that levies only generate revenue equal to the dollar amount originally approved by voters
The Levy Cycle: Due to HB 920's restrictions, school districts often implement "levy cycle" strategies. After a successful levy, cash balances are higher for a period of time, then gradually spent down as expenses increase. When reserves reach a critical threshold, another levy becomes necessary to replenish funds.
Why School Districts Maintain Cash Balances
There are several important reasons why Ohio school districts may carry relatively high cash balances:
- Cash flow management is essential as school officials practice responsible stewardship of public tax dollars
- Five-year forecasts include predictions for maintaining healthy cash balances through revenue/expense cycles
- Strategic reserves help districts navigate state law changes, such as the phase-out of Tangible Personal Property tax replacement payments
- Appropriate cash balances allow districts to implement planned infrastructure improvements without additional tax burdens
- The school funding system itself, with its fixed revenue and growing expenses, necessitates maintaining prudent fiscal reserves
Our Commitment
We remain committed to advocating for amendments that recognize responsible fiscal management and collaborative local decision-making, allowing us to fulfill our commitments to students, staff, and community members.