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Special Edition: �Finances & Investments�October 29, 2019

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Mason

City Schools

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WELCOME

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Jonathan Cooper

Superintendent | CEO

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Operating (levies) vs Capital (bond issues)

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Mason City Schools

Operating Budget

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MCS Delivers Value�Fiscal Stewardship

ranks 5th in OH

  • while spending $725 less per student than the state avg
  • $223 less per student than neighboring districts’ avg
  • $3,096 less per student than Ohio’s Top 10 avg.

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Instruction�

MCS: 62.1%

Top 10 avg: 61.9%

OH avg: 58.1%

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Building Operations

MCS: 18.4%

Top 10 avg: 15.2%

OH avg: 18.8%

Administration

MCS: 9.8%

Top 10 avg: 12.6%

OH avg: 13.4%

Pupil Support

MCS: 6.1%

Top 10 avg: 6.5%

OH avg: 6.2%

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Staff Support

MCS: 3.6%

Top 10 avg: 3.8%

OH avg: 3.5%

Expenditures

Mason spends 22% less on administration than peers

Where the Money Goes

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62% of MCS teachers w/ 10+ years experience

than if MCS had avg. OH �students to administrators ratio

�Administrators

24 Fewer

Mason’s big buildings increase collaboration, student opportunities, and efficiency.

10,500 students

5 schools

4 buildings

Mason Prioritizes the Classroom

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75%

Mason Prioritizes Teaching & Learning

85%

of MCS operating budget is salaries & benefits

of those MCS salaries & benefits pay for our teachers

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ranks 5th in OH

  • while receiving $2,883 less per student than the state avg
  • $1,772 less per student than neighboring districts’ avg
  • $5,072 less per student than Ohio’s Top 10 avg.

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MCS is considered affluent by the state & will continue to see

flat or reduced funding

in the future.

Revenues

Where the Money Comes From

Avg. OH district gets $1,718 MORE per pupil in

State $

Avg. OH district gets $480 MORE per pupil in

Local $

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Neighboring School Districts

Total Property Tax Revenue per Student

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6 of Mason’s 7 neighboring school district’s receive more total property tax revenue per student than MCS.

Mason is considered a very hot housing market.

  • Home values have gone up 7.4% over the past year.
  • Zillow predicts they will rise 5.4% within the next year.

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Does an operating levy pay for buildings?

  • No! An operating levy funds the day-to-day operation of the district including salaries, benefits, and utilities.�

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Mason City Schools

Capital Budget

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2000

MHS �Bond Issue: �6.78 Mills

2004

MECC

Bond Issue: 1.78 Mills

2007

MHS Addition

Bond Issue: �1.27 Mills

The MECC addition in 2018, renovations to ME & MI in 2019 & Total renovation of MMS did not require a bond issue.

MCS Bond Issues

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a 20 Year Plan

Pays Off for Our Community

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  • Funded without Raising Taxes

Thanks to wise financial planning from the school board �over the last 20 years & strong commitment by the �City of Mason and Deerfield Township who made our community a hub of economic development

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  • $34 million (80% of funding) �from tobacco settlement monies through the �Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC)

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2000

MHS �Bond Issue: �6.78 Mills

2004

MECC

Bond Issue: 1.78 Mills

2007

MHS Addition

Bond Issue: �1.27 Mills

2021

5 Mills� of capital debt retires as MHS “mortgage” is paid off.

MCS Capital Debt

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2000

MHS �Bond Issue: �6.78 Mills

2001

Operating�Levy:

6.95 Mills

2002

Levy:

1.5 Mills

2003

Levy:

1.5 Mills

2004

MECC

Bond Issue: 1.78 Mills

2005

Operating�Levy: �6.54 Mills

2006

Levy: �1.7 Mills

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2007

Levy:

1.7Mills

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2010

Operating�Levy

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2007

MHS Addition

Bond Issue: �1.27 Mills

9.95 mill Phased-in Levy

9.95 mill Phased-in Levy

It will have been

15 years since MCS passed an operating levy.

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How has MCS listened to the community?

2012-2017

Cost reductions �keep expenses flat

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2010

Operating

Levy Fails

  • Eliminate over 160 positions
  • Stop teaming at MMS
  • Semesters instead of Trimesters at MHS
  • Raised class sizes
  • Close Mason Heights
  • Wage freezes for all staff in 12-13 & 13-14
  • Pay-to-Participate Fees
  • Consolidate bus stops

2018-Future

District makes strategic �investment priorities

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  • Keep high-quality staff
  • School Safety
  • Mental Wellness
  • Student Opportunities
  • Innovation & STEAM
  • Strategically reduce class size
  • Close Western Row

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With total operating revenues expected to increase by less than 1% per year, the current 5 Year Financial Forecast projects MCS cash balance to remain positive for FY’20 & FY’21 before turning negative in FY’22.

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New revenues and/or �new reductions

are needed.

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2000

MHS �Bond Issue: �6.78 Mills

2001

Operating�Levy:

6.95 Mills

2002

Levy:

1.5 Mills

2003

Levy:

1.5 Mills

2004

MECC

Bond Issue: 1.78 Mills

2005

Operating�Levy: �6.54 Mills

2006

Levy: �1.7 Mills

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2007

Levy:

1.7Mills

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2010

Operating�Levy

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2007

MHS Addition

Bond Issue: �1.27 Mills

9.95 mill Phased-in Levy

9.95 mill Phased-in Levy

It will have been

15 years since MCS passed an operating levy.

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Why would MCS need a levy?

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Why would MCS need a levy?

  • Because of the way schools are funded in �Ohio, most districts need to request new �operating levies every 3-5 years just to cover �day-to-day operating expenses.

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  • The state will not be coming to our rescue.

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  • The last operating levy passed in 2005.

OH eliminated TPP - reducing MCS funding by $14 million annually

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Let’s Dig In!

  • Break into 5 Groups
  • Rotate to 6 Stations

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Feedback

  1. Local Funding Story
  2. State Funding Story
  3. A Decade of Decisions
  4. Facilities Story
  5. Today’s Investment Story
  6. Future Investment Ideation

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Feedback

At your table, share:

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  1. What surprised you?

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  • What questions do you still have?

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Thanks for Your Investment

  • time
  • feedback on Comet�culture, innovation, inclusive excellence�& fiscal stewardship