BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—During the five-year forecast at the board meeting, it was shared that House Bills 129 and 186 are shaping up to spell further financial trouble for the district over time.

House Bill 186 stipulates that if a district falls below the 20-mill floor, the growth it receives from a property reappraisal is capped at the inflation rate, which is 15.4%. House Bill 186 would result in approximately a $450,000 loss annually.

House Bill 129, a fixed-sum levy formerly known as an emergency levy, didn’t count toward the 20-mill floor calculation, but under HB 129, these levies now do count. Because these levies are now included in the 20-mill total, the “gap” the district needs to fill to reach the 20-mill floor is smaller, resulting in less overall income for the district. House Bill 129 will result in approximately a $250,000 loss annually beginning in Fiscal Year 2028.

Falling below the 20-mill floor initially provided a significant increase in revenue of approximately $750,000; however, the combination of the new house bills is estimated to take back approximately $700,000 from expected growth.

The state’s “clawback” of revenue may cause a much larger cumulative deficit, projected to be about a $1.3 million negative carryover by 2030 if the proposed income tax levy is approved by voters in May 2026. Initially, the district had anticipated a $1.4 million carryover with the passage of the income tax levy.

The 20-mill floor came about from House Bill 920 in the 1970s, which prevented school districts from receiving more money if property values went up.

When voters pass a levy, the district is locked into receiving the fixed dollar amount that the levy generated at the time it was passed. As property values rise, the millage (tax rate) is automatically reduced so the district doesn’t collect more than the original dollar amount.

The 20-mill floor is the exception to HB 920 because if property values rise so significantly that the effective tax rate drops below 20 mills, the district is then legally required to stay at 20 mills. Mills are a unit of value representing the rate used to calculate property taxes. In cash terms, one mill is one-tenth of a penny. Values are set by county auditors when properties are reviewed every three years.

To help offset the loss of revenue, Wynford is looking to pass a 1.75% earned income tax levy on the May 5 ballot. With an earned income tax levy, taxpayers are taxed on W-2 wages and 1099/self-employment income — not annuities, retirement income, rental income, Social Security, dividends, alimony, interest, trusts and estates, workers’ compensation, welfare benefits, or unemployment compensation.

Based on the information in the chart above, the income tax rate paid would be $971.

For more information on the district’s levy, go to wynfordforkids.com or the Wynford for Kids Facebook page.

In other business, Superintendent Trisler announced that an AI policy will be presented to the board by July after reviewing both state and OSBA recommendations.

Connie Martinez and Jennifer Kelley were hired as full-time bus drivers for the remainder of the school year, pending verification of credentials.

Members also approved the FFA trip to the 2026 National Soil Judging Contest in Oklahoma, scheduled for May 4–8. Team members include senior Clay Lusk, juniors Josh Rindfuss and Brennen Westrick, and freshman Tessa Spore.

The next board meeting will be held March 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the Media Center.