PARMA, Ohio — The Parma City School Distirct is preparing to place a 6.88 millage emergency operating levy on the ballot this fall to address a projected multi-million-dollar budget deficit.
“The first year that we projected a deficit was 2022. We've pushed that off through fiscal management, through using grants, through using federal government money, we've pushed that all the way to 2027,” Superintendent Charles Smialek says. “So we know how to manage taxpayer money.”
Smialek says the district faces a $17-$18 million budget deficit in three years, and they are coming to voters now to keep the district’s ask low.
“What we 're trying to avoid is waiting until 2025 or '26 when the dollar figures are really going to have to be higher or you're looking at a really a substantial amount of layoffs of teachers and support staff,” Smialek shares. “We really want to avoid that, so the earlier we pass, the lower we can keep the dollar amount.”
The district has not passed new school funding since 2011, failing six times in the last 13 years to get bond issues and school levies passed, according to Smialek. The most recent attempt occurred in May of 2023, when residents voted down a proposal that would've funded a replacement for the now closed Parma Senior High School.
“We also are a community where we have approximately 115,000 residents and about 9,000 students in the schools,” Smialek explains. “There's a big gap between those who are actively using our schools and those who have actually moved on.”
The proposed emergency operating levy would generate between $15 to $20 million annually for the district, depending on property evaluations. If passed, the levy would cost taxpayers around $20.07 more per month for every $100,000 of their home’s value.
“We have great opportunities for our kids right now and we want to protect them,” Smialek tells 3News.
Without the levy’s approval, Smialek says the district faces increased class sizes due to a smaller workforce, class options for high school students being cut from eight classes to five and pay-to-play fees reinstated.
Smialek says the Board of Education will vote on the proposed levy this summer.
*Correction -- This story previously stated the levy would cost taxpayers around $20.07 more per year. It has been corrected to $20.07 per month.
