2015 LEVY CAMPAIGN TOOLKIT YES ON ISSUE #6!

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1 2015 LEVY CAMPAIGN TOOLKIT YES ON ISSUE #6!

2 KEY TALKING POINTS: Lancaster City Schools will ask voters to renew the district s current 1.5% earned income tax levy in the 2015 November election. The current operating levy funds $11 million nearly 18 percent of the district s operating budget. The LCS Earned Income Tax Renewal ISSUE #6: IS a RENEWAL of the district s 1.5% earned income tax it will NOT raise your tax rate! o The renewal provides the same funding levels we currently operate with. o This funding is CRITICAL to our district. Without it, we would have to make drastic cuts that would impact our ability to serve the children of our community. IS applied to earned income wages only. o The renewal is NOT a tax on retirement, social security or other non-earned income. PROVIDES LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY for our schools so we can continue to provide excellent education opportunities for our kids now and in the future. o Because the district will be financially stable for the long-term if the continuing renewal passes, the district would have an opportunity to leverage state funding and finance (similar to a mortgage) the building of two new junior high schools without requesting additional tax payer dollars. The only way we can consider this opportunity is if the continuing renewal passes. MY ELEVATOR SPEECH:

3 IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT CAMPAIGNING: Please remember to use the talking points and informational cards provided by the campaign. If you are asked a question for which you do not know the answer, please do not ad-lib. Simply let the person know that you are unsure and contact your principal or a committee member to obtain the answer and follow up with the person after you get the accurate, most up-to-date answer to the question. If you are consistently getting the same questions, please share those with your principal or a member of the committee. We are compiling a list of Frequently Asked Questions to share with the campaign team. The campaign website is and the Facebook page is YesLCS. NO SCHOOL OR DISTRICT RESOURCES MAY BE USED FOR CAMPAIGNING. Campaigning is defined as asking someone to vote YES on an issue. Providing information that doesn t say VOTE YES or SUPPORT THE LEVY is not campaigning. All printed campaign materials must include the disclaimer Paid for by the Citizens Committee for Children. Penny Wasem, CPA, Treasurer.

4 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Why do you need this funding/why is it important? The funding from the earned income tax funds nearly 18% - $11 million of our budget. Without it, our district would need to make drastic cuts that would negatively impact the education of the more than 6,000 children we serve. What about the new junior high buildings will this be funding that project? If passed, this continuing renewal will provide long-term stability for operating the district. Because of the stability, we would be able to finance funding (similar to a mortgage) to build two new junior highs without requesting additional taxes. The only way we can consider this opportunity is if the continuing renewal passes. We would also be able to leverage state school facilities funding to pay for approximately one-third (actual funding TBD by the state) of the cost of building the schools. I heard the district has a huge carry over/rainy day fund. Why can t you just use that money? Simply put: The carryover funding is not enough to sustain the district long-term. The carryover fund is due to responsible budgeting practices since the passage of the original earned income tax in 2006.First and foremost, the carryover will not last long if it has to be spent to make up for the loss of $11 million per year if this tax levy does not pass. Passing the levy is critical for us to continue providing the education programs, support programs and staffing to keep our schools excellent. In addition, passing the levy will allow us to use a portion of the carryover money toward financing/mortgaging the two new junior high schools without raising taxes. Why are you going for a continuing renewal instead of just renewing for another 10 years? A continuing renewal will enable the district to have long-term stability to meet the educational needs of our community for the foreseeable future. By approving a continuing renewal, we will also be able to pursue the financing/mortgaging of the building of two new junior high buildings without seeking additional taxpayer dollars. We would also be able to leverage state school facilities funding to pay for approximately one-third (actual funding TBD by the state) of the cost of building the schools. Since the Tax is a continuing tax, why is it still being called a renewal? Since the proposed tax is for the same rate (1.5%) and is the same type of tax (Earned Income Tax), the tax still qualifies as a renewal tax under the Ohio Revised Code. Renewal taxes do not have to be for the same time period as the original tax. Why are we going on the ballot now, a year early since the current tax doesn t expire until 2017? Aren t you double dipping? No we are going one year early to allow for accurate long-term financial, staffing and strategic planning. In addition, passing the levy now will secure funding from the State for the construction of the two junior high schools. If this issue passes, the current tax will simply continue at the same level, and effectively renew the tax that s currently in place. The current tax expires 12/31/16 and the new tax would take effect 1/1/17. How is the new furniture and other items in the new elementary schools being paid for? The new furniture and other items at the new elementary schools are funded through the bond levy not this operations levy.

5 WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW TO HELP? Sign up to receive the LCS e-newsletter so you can stay updated on the good news from the schools and share it with friends, family and neighbors. Follow Lancaster City Schools on Facebook. Like YesLCS on Facebook to get updates on the levy campaign. Go to and sign up to help on the campaign by clicking the Take Action link. Be ready to help be boots on the ground when we hit campaign season assisting with mailings, yard sign distribution, social media sharing, etc.

6 IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN DATES: August 20: First day of school September 19: Military Early Voting Begins October 5: Deadline for voter registration October 6: Early Voting (Absentee) Begins November 3: Election Day! IMPORTANT DATES FOR OUR CAMPAIGN EFFORTS: