YES ON 4

Yes. Like school districts across the country, DPS received temporary federal pandemic relief through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program, known as ESSER.

Using those funds for eligible expenses helped preserve district dollars that otherwise would have paid those costs. That distinction matters: the district could spend federal relief within its grant deadlines while retaining its own funds to help sustain services after that temporary support ended.

Those preserved district resources have helped support operations beyond the relief period. They are savings that can be used over time, not a permanent source of new annual income. As expenses continue, drawing on savings reduces the balance available for future years.

The deadline was not simply the end of 2024. For the final major round, ARP ESSER, funds had to be obligated, meaning committed to eligible expenses, by September 30, 2024. The general deadline to liquidate those obligations, meaning complete payments, was January 28, 2025, unless an approved extension applied. Earlier ESSER rounds had earlier deadlines.

The levy addresses the ongoing cost of serving children after temporary relief has ended. Careful use of one-time funding can buy time; dependable annual revenue is needed to sustain the workforce, programs and services students rely on year after year.

Deadline sources: U.S. Department of Education obligation guidance and liquidation deadline FAQs.

DPS’s last new operating levy passed in 2008. The district has continued serving students while adjusting resources, and has also received temporary COVID relief and a recovery through state-funding litigation. Those additional resources do not provide permanent annual income.

Meanwhile, the cost of operating schools and supporting a skilled workforce continues. The committee’s June 2026 forecast shows expenses exceeding revenue and reserves declining. Additional local funding is intended to help sustain the people and services children rely on, with continued public accountability.

ESSER was temporary pandemic relief. A settlement recovers money tied to a particular dispute; it does not establish dependable annual income. Neither is a lasting substitute for the recurring revenue needed to provide services year after year.

Supporting employees means investing in the people children depend on every day. Dependable funding helps the district attract and retain skilled professionals from within our community and beyond, while creating opportunities for more community members to become part of the DPS workforce.

It also supports training and professional development so employees can continue building the skills students need them to have. From a first-year teacher beginning a career in education to an experienced professional becoming a second-career career-tech teacher, students benefit from the knowledge, experience and commitment people bring to our schools.

That investment extends to every role that helps schools function: bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, classroom assistants, counselors, nurses, principals, safety personnel and other support teams. Together, they help create a safe, secure and supportive environment for children and employees.

For parents and families, that means greater peace of mind: knowing their children are surrounded by capable, prepared adults who are there to teach, guide and care for them.

That is what supporting this levy means: investing in the people who help children learn, grow and thrive.

Administrative spending should be reviewed alongside every other expense. Families deserve to know that the district is using public dollars responsibly and keeping students at the center of its decisions.

If the levy does not pass, administrative costs will be reduced along with other costs that support students and school operations. Administration will be part of the reductions, too.

It also helps to understand what that work includes. Principals support teachers, respond to student needs and work with families. Other administrative functions coordinate transportation, student services, staffing, payroll, safety and financial oversight. These responsibilities help keep schools operating and employees equipped to serve children.

The funding challenge extends across district operations. Reducing administrative spending does not mean classroom staff, wraparound services, activities, transportation and other general fund programs can all be protected from reductions.

Supporting the levy and expecting efficient administration go hand in hand. The goal is to sustain the people and services children rely on while continuing to review costs and hold the district accountable.

If the levy does not pass, the district will need to reduce its workforce and services because it will no longer be able to afford the current level of operations.

Potential reductions may affect staffing, wraparound services, after-school activities, arts, sports, high school transportation and other programs supported by the general fund.

These are areas that may be affected, not a finalized list of cuts. Specific reductions, and whether any school closures would be proposed, would depend on the district’s financial and operational decisions.

Supporting the levy helps sustain the people and services students rely on throughout the school day and beyond.

Use the scenario calculator above. Confirm final ballot terms and official tax estimates before making financial decisions.

Consult the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce five-year forecast and the supporting district reports cited in the committee presentation.