Schools struggle for funding as more ballot items fail
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School districts in Central Ohio and elsewhere across the state struggled to convince voters to approve new sources of funding in the recent election and now face difficult financial decisions.
Why it matters: Districts are increasingly reliant on funding sources like property and income taxes — additional expenses that many financially strapped voters said were too much to bear this election.
The latest: Of 134 statewide ballot issues tracked by the Ohio School Boards Association for the Nov. 3 ballot, just over half passed.
Zoom in: Voters in a dozen Central Ohio districts faced levies or bonds, and only four were approved or are on track to pass.
- South-Western City Schools was the only successful issue in Franklin County — its bond issue didn't increase taxes and passed with 66% of the vote.
- Issues for Jefferson and Miami Trace lead by small margins, while the Delaware Area Career Center also passed.
Threat level: Chillicothe, Mount Vernon, Pickerington and Southwest Licking have now experienced multiple failed issues in a row.
- Pickerington's board president says the district faces deep cuts.
- Southwest Licking's superintendent says cuts could be "catastrophic."
Between the lines: Funding from ballot issues has become critical for districts amid reduced state funding.
- The state's average share of Ohio's funding formula is 32% in FY2027, down from 43% as recently as FY2024, per Ohio Department of Education and Workforce data reported by NBC4.
- An August analysis from the Ohio Association of School Business Officials found that 39% of districts will have an operating deficit ratio above 2% in FY2027. The association projects that to grow to 86% by FY2030.