PRESERVING OUR LEGACY
PROTECTING OUR FUTURE
VOTE FOR GRAHAM LOCAL SCHOOLS
ON MAY 6, 2025
Graham Local School District requests its families, neighbors, and residents approve a 1% Earned Income Tax Levy.
An earned income tax option means that social security benefits, workers compensation and unemployment benefits are NOT taxed.
Graham is the ONLY district in the area without a local levy that provides operating support
83% of Ohio School Districts receive more local revenue than Graham Local Schools
An investment in Graham Local Schools is an investment in our children and community's future
A YES VOTE PROVIDES:
Why is Graham asking our community
for more funding?
FISCAL CHALLENGES
Graham Local Schools is one of the only districts in the area that does not have a local OPERATING levy for the district beyond the collection of real estate taxes and
state funding.
Graham Local Schools receives approximately 60% of its yearly funding from the state of Ohio. To make adjustments to balance spending versus revenue, the district made over 1 million dollars in cuts for the 2024-2025 school year. Even with the cuts made the district will still be deficit spending.
Without additional revenue, additional cuts will continue to be made.
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS
Over the past seven years, student programming and course offerings have been reduced to prioritize core instructional staff and meet special education requirements.
Over the last two years in order to reduce costs, Graham has reduced its teaching staff by 14.
Three of the teaching staff position lost in the last two years were "intervention specialists". These are teachers who offer needed assists to students with special needs.
Graham's Special Education population has increased from 16% of total enrolled students qualifying and requiring special education services in 2019 to 19% of total enrolled students in 2023. State and Federal funding does not cover the entire cost to meet the education requirements of special education students.
RISING COSTS
Maintenance and operating expenses for transportation, utilities, and facilities have increased or will increase an average of 40% over the next 5 years.
The Graham Local School District covers 186 square miles, making up one-half of Champaign County, and covers a total of 1,972 regular route miles per day with 16 route buses.
Graham maintains a total of 377,396 square feet of internal building space with 9 custodians.
Voters passed a Permanent Improvement Renewal Levy in 2023. This is money first dedicated to school bus replacement and then to facility repair and support. All other maintenance, repairs, and equipment replacement comes from the general operating fund.
