VIEWPOINT: Walder Praises West G in Letter to Editor
I am writing to applaud the West Geauga (Schools) Board of Education’s decision to help taxpayers in their district by voluntarily reducing collection of an emergency levy by $1 million, and its superintendent and treasurer’s leadership.
I am writing to applaud the West Geauga (Schools) Board of Education’s decision to help taxpayers in their district by voluntarily reducing collection of an emergency levy by $1 million, and its superintendent and treasurer’s leadership.
By mitigating the increase to inside millage due to the state-mandated sexennial reappraisal, West Geauga put its residents first. West Geauga is reportedly the only one of Ohio’s approximately 600 school districts to take this action, despite this being an unprecedented time where many Ohio taxpayers face increased property taxes.
In addition, West Geauga has responsibly reinvented their educational model to deliver exceptional services to students while simultaneously improving their fiscal outlook when compared to a decade ago.
With this background, at West Geauga’s Feb. 28, 2024, budget hearing before the Geauga County Budget Commission, West Geauga’s representatives remained paradigms of public servants. They were thoroughly prepared and civilly advocated for their position throughout the hearing’s discussions and debates.
When the budget commission decided to suspend collection of one emergency levy for 2024/2025 to operate the district at a near revenue-neutral level, West Geauga’s representatives were professional and courteously accepted the decision despite their obvious disappointment.
Throughout, West Geauga’s leaders have demonstrated by their actions that they are responsibly budgeting and managing the public money under their care, which was provided by taxpayers through property taxes.
As a taxpayer in the West Geauga school district, I commend West Geauga’s treasurer, school board and superintendent for their careful, prudent and responsible handling of this difficult issue despite incredible external pressures from peer organizations and personnel.
This is truly what we should be teaching our children. I am proud and glad that I live in the West Geauga school district.
Thank you,
Chuck Walder
Geauga County Auditor
