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MEET THE CEO/CFO: May 4 Ballot Issue
Kirk Koennecke and Mick Davis
In an effort to inform our stakeholders about the issues we face as a District specific to our operations, the Indian Hill School District welcomes you to MEET THE CEO/CFO. In this three-part video series, Superintendent Kirk Koennecke and Treasurer Mick Davis discuss important factual information about the needs identified by community committees and the impact of the operational portion May 4, 2021 combined levy.

VIDEO THREE: May 4 Ballot Issue
On May 4, 2021, our District will be on the ballot for a 5.43 mill combined operating/bond levy. The estimated cost of the May 4 ballot issue is approximately $190.05/year ($ 15.84/month) per $100,000 of property market value per the County Auditor’s website. 

The bond issue is a 30-year financial commitment to generate $77 million for our facilities – that total includes the replacement of Indian Hill Middle School; the replacement of the Indian Hill Elementary School sawtooth section; security upgrades at every building; and necessary mechanical upgrades across the District. The operational levy will be a 5-year commitment, with an option to place a renewal on a future ballot. 

The Indian Hill School District has stretched current resources as far as they can go without beginning to affect the student experience our community expects. Our District has been actively, closely examining our need to bring revenues in line with expenses. We continue to anticipate near-flat revenue growth (near one percent per year). One percent per year is well below the rate of inflation mark. Inflationary trends affect us on the revenue side, as well as the expense side as things get more expensive over time. The inflation of expenses outpaces the inflation of revenue.

Because of this situation with our operating funds, and because of the substantial issues within our facilities – both in terms of significant maintenance needs, despite excellent maintenance on an antiquated building, and necessary safety upgrades – our community-based committees who researched our needs during a 3-year public process recommended our District move forward with a combined issue levy. 

If the May 4 levy passes, the District can maintain the operational and capital needs to maintain excellence. If the levy fails, our Board of Education would need to consider district-wide cuts and reductions in the people, programs, and services that have long served the children within this District. Those specific cuts have not been determined. If the levy fails, the middle school  will continue to deteriorate and other capital needs will be pushed to the future. This delay will likely result in even higher costs to the District.