Letters to the editor

In support of FCS For nearly 20 years, Findlay City Schools has managed to operate without new operating money. The district has had to reorganize, reprioritize, and make difficult cuts to keep things running. "Just making it work" is not a goal for a community that values its children and its future. We want a district that offers all students every opportunity for excellence. Driving through Findlay, it is heartwarming to note that despite the political differences, we are united in our support of Findlay City Schools. Our community understands that a strong school district is an investment in our city's future, its workforce, and its ability to thrive. Political views will always vary, but when it comes to the future of our children, Findlay IS united. Supporting our schools isn't about politics — it's about doing what is right for our children and our community. For these reasons, I hope you join me in supporting Findlay City Schools. Cathy Clark Findlay Vote for Findlay City Schools Findlay is a thriving community. We have a beautiful downtown, strong local businesses and all of the amenities that make Findlay an ideal place to live and raise a family, including excellentschools. Findlay City Schools offer a variety of programs to serve our student population including honors and advanced placement programs, services for students with developmental disabilities and Millstream Career Center which provides excellent career technical education opportunities. FCS is a one-stop shop and should be the destination school of choice for all students. Sadly, Ohio's education funding model has lowered FCS's revenue and expects us, as a community, to fund our schools. FCS has not received new operating revenue since 2004. They are operating a district with 2024 prices using dollars from 2004. Due to inflation and increased costs of goods and services, Findlay City Schools is currently operating on a deficit and will have to make cuts as soon as next school year. With the current property tax, even when our property values increase, the revenue Findlay City Schools receives does not. Salaries, supplies and benefits have all risen while the revenue has stayed the same. Under no circumstance can we expect FCS to operate on a 20-year-old budget while also expecting our students to excel and our community to prosper. As proud alumni of Findlay City Schools, we understand the value of a strong education and a supportive school system. That's why we decided to raise our family in Findlay and enroll our children in FCS, ensuring they receive the best opportunities for their growth and success. A vote FOR Findlay City Schools is a vote FOR our kids and a vote FOR our community! Chad and Danielle Perkins Findlay Vote 'yes' for FCS As members of the Findlay City School Board, we have an important message about the future of our school district. Your support is necessary to ensure that Findlay City Schools can continue to provide the high-quality education our community deserves. Our community last approved new operating money for our schools in 2004. The costs of providing a modern, competitive education have risen significantly since then. Without a cost-of-living increase — even despite our best efforts to manage our resources efficiently and responsibly–we now face a looming deficit of $12.7 million, which aligns with the amount that the state has determined as our community's capacity to contribute, according to Ohio's fair school funding formula. Our goal was to find a solution that would meet our funding requirements while minimizing the impact on our community members, especially those on fixed incomes. After extensive analysis, we determined that a 1% earned income tax would be the most prudent approach. The advantages of an earned income tax are many: it does not impact those on fixed incomes, including retirees, Social Security and retirement benefits will not be taxed, it reduces an over-reliance on property taxes while diversifying revenue, and unlike a property tax, an earned income tax allows us to rise and fall together with the economy. The proposed tax is carefully calibrated to address our deficit and put our schools on solid financial footing. The funds generated will allow us to maintain current programs and services, attract and retain quality teachers, keep class sizes manageable, and continue to exceed state expectations. We understand that any tax increase is impactful. However, this modest investment will yield significant returns. By investing and believing in a district that prepares our children for future success, attracts new families to our area, and maintains property values, we're investing in the future of Findlay. Quality education is the foundation of a thriving community. Together, we can ensure that Findlay City Schools remains a point of pride for our community and a launchpad for our future! Thank you, and go Trojans! Findlay City School Board