Superintendents Message

Patrick Dubbs

Superintendent
Superintendent’s Message

Supt Message – 1/15/10

Happy New Year – As we enter 2010 I would like to review our school finances.  On November 4, 2008, the school district had an operating renewal levy on the ballot.  That levy was designed to address an expiring levy.  When it failed the school district lost all operating millage above the state minimum 20 mill floor.  For the entire 2009 calendar year the school district collected only 20 mills for the general fund.  It took all the available fiscal resources of the school district to maintain our current educational program in 2009.

The school district came back to the voters in February of 2009 with a special emergency levy.  Thanks to our community and its support the emergency levy passed.  That election reinstated the school district’s lost millage back to 10.15 mills above the 20 mill minimum.  These 10 mills represent the same millage that the community passed in 2003.  Because the millage was not passed until the 2009 calendar year, tax payers in Wayne Local Schools saw a drop in School related property taxes during the 2009 calendar year.  As we enter 2010 the recently passed millage will again be reflected in your property taxes.  In Wayne Local School District the median house value was $165,000. This house is now valued at about $149,985. The effective tax rate on the median valued home will cost approximately $1,648 a year for school related taxes this year.  In 2008 the taxes were $1,597 and then they dropped to $1,227 in 2009.  As a result we saw a reduction of taxes of $370 in 2009 and then an increase of $421 in 2010.  From 2008 to 2010 this amounts to a $51 increase.  I would like to point out that in 2004 the school taxes were $1,835 on a house valued at $165,000.

Please be aware that your 2010 vs. your 2009 taxes are impacted by levies and issues outside of Wayne Local Schools’ taxes. I am very much aware that any tax adjustment in this economy is not going to be favorably accepted by everyone.  I ask that the community reflect and view the 2010 tax changes in light of what was on the books in 2008. Your investment maintains an excellent school system that is a focal point of community pride for Wayne Township and its villages.  Our operating plan is supported by this five (5) year emergency levy designed with annual incremental increases each calendar year to address minimum inflation and operating costs increases.  Wayne Local Schools has committed to operate the next five (5) years on this revenue source.  Providing a high quality educational program for our students with local support and careful fiscal management is at the center of our decisions. 

Thank you for being a part of Spartan Pride Community Wide.