Dear Lexington School District Residents,
My name is Mike Ziegelhofer. Our family was blessed with the opportunity to move to Lexington in 1988.
Our oldest child was starting kindergarten and I was starting my first year as principal of Lexington High School. I had the honor and privilege to serve the Lexington School District for the last 32 years of my 45 years in education; 6 years as high school principal, 4 years as assistant superintendent and 22 years as superintendent.
Over the years, Lexington Schools earned the reputation of being an excellent school district. Our goal and top priority was/is always to maintain and enhance that reputation of excellence by providing each student every opportunity possible to be as well prepared as possible for whatever comes next.
Community support is absolutely necessary to that goal of maintaining and enhancing excellence.
During my years at Lexington, when the school district was facing financial challenges, our Lex community wanted/needed to be well informed and when the issues were explained, the majority were willing to support their district at the polls.
The most recent request for new operating money was in 2011.
Now, because of state funding cuts in recent years, our Lexington Schools and many of other districts across the state are facing serious financial challenges. Our school district will face a significant financial deficit, if, there are no additional operating funds.
Our school district, yours and mine, needs our help!
There will be two Lexington issues on the November ballot. Both are vital to the future of our school district.
The first is a Property Tax Renewal, first approved in 2011 and renewed in 2016.
Renewing this Property Tax will cost us NOTHING… ZERO! NO Property Tax increase! This renewal is for 5 years.
The second issue on the ballot is a 0.75% Earned Income Tax.
This earned income tax DOES NOT tax Senior Citizens living on a fixed retirement income. Senior Citizens, this income tax will cost you ZERO.
For those who are still working, you will be taxed $375 per year or $31.25 per month per $50,000 of Ohio Adjusted Gross Income. This income tax will be up for renewal in 10 years.
How can you help?
Please share this information with those you know. And, please consider voting YES for the Property Tax Renewal and the 0.75% earned income tax. Both issues are absolutely necessary.
Your YES vote for both issues will enable your/our Lexington School District to continue to maintain and enhance its reputation of excellence in providing students now and for years to come a first class, well rounded preparation for life after high school.
THANK YOU, Lex Community, for your trust in and support of your School District, over the years and now!
Most sincerely,
Mike Ziegelhofer
Former Lexington Superintendent