Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

In my absence..

Since I am not able to attend, can you bring up the kindergarten village? That is if you think discussion on it may be beneficial.

Thanks!

State Funding?

I understand that PLSD has applied to the ''Ohio School Facilities Commission'' for funding in February. I also understand that PLSD is like 312 on the list.

TP what effect does these levy campaigns have on the OSFC funding?

TP is the requested funding at 40%?

TP went do we lose our place on the funding list?



By Tired Taxpayer

OSFC Funding

OSFC funding is a wonderfully complicated way of building schools, one that only a government entity could have come up with, as there are many strings attached and conditions to meet.

Pickerington's number is around the 312 mark that you mentioned. It is anticipated that, at the current rate, we will be up for our turn in 4-5 years. At that time, the OSFC would review our master plan, make their determinations as to what THEY believe our district needs, and look at what funding has been put in place to ensure the plan coming to fruition. If your plan meets all their guidelines, you are eligible for (I believe) UP TO a 50% matching level. If you have something in your plan that OSFC does not believe is warranted, all the money for that ''extra'' space must come from Local Funding Initiatives, or taxes as normal people would call them.

I believe PLSD is currently eligible at a 40% funding rate. That may change when their number comes up. When your turn on the list is over, you go to the back of the line, and start all over again. Of course, there is no guarantee that OSFC or any other type of state funding for building schools will be available whenever that next turn would come up. The bulk of the current round of funding is money appropriated from the tobacco settlement, and the legislators have been raiding that fund for things ever since they received the first payment. It was supposed to be used for health care initiatives, if I recall correctly.

The board must look at the pros and cons of OSFC funding, and determine whether or not they want to strive to meet all their guidelines. Meeting their guielines may possibly mean a higher cost in the long run. A number of local districts, Hilliard, and (I believe) Westerville come to mind, have decided not to apply for OSFC money. Of course, they have a business tax base to help that we in Pickerington do not.

I know Mr. Riegelman reads these boards, so if he can clear up anything I have gotten wrong inadvertantly, it would be appreciated.

OSFC funding factors

I believe in this whole OSFC funding formula is the subject of growth. I understand that some districts projected sharp increases in projected growth. Once the building was build those growth projections did not materialize.


What happens if the Pickerington community gets its residential growth under control and the projections turn out to be false. Clearly there is a real drop off of the district's growth since 2003. I am not sure if this is from more hassle at the township and the city in getting approvals or if it is a down turn in the housing market. In either case our future needs for school buildings will be greatly affected.

What is the Facilities Committee using for growth estimates? If you are using old data then maybe we need to look a littler closer to home to determine what the true rate of growth will be over the next few years. I keep seeing the 1997 committee isn't it about time to adjust those numbers and plans? Wouldn't it be also important to get some city and township officials involved?








By Hanging out