FINDLAY, Ohio — Findlay City Schools is considering a tax levy because while the district's federal funding has been consistent over the years, local taxes aren't covering the costs.
"The board is actually going to be looking at some options in the near future about how we're going to be funding and looking at creating a tax policy so that we're all on the same page," said FCS Treasurer Pam Harrington.
The school district will utilize funding in the following ways for the current fiscal year, as explained in its annual public meeting held on Monday: just over $1.3 million in Title 1 funding mostly used for professional development, just over $1.4 million in IDEA Part B funding for the payroll of special needs aids and $1 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding.
Harrington said the meetings allow the public to "voice their opinion on how we spend the money and what it's spent for."
It's in the effort of transparency, said FCS Superintendent Andy Hatton.
"We are here to serve first and foremost our children and students in this community, as well as the families, and then the community as a whole," he said. "And since we are public servants, we owe it to the public to be very transparent. So we would always welcome any questions about how we are spending the public's money."
But the annual meetings see almost no attendance from the public, Hatton said.
He understands residents may be too busy to show up to school district meetings, which is why he wants to be transparent.
"Obviously, we know that many in our community might be working multiple jobs," Hatton said. "However, that's why we try to make it so accessible in different ways. And we try to put it in language that's easy to understand."
If you weren't able to attend Monday's meeting, the FCS board meets monthly and school officials say you can reach out to them online.