Over $19 million will be invested in area schools if the proposed state budget makes it through the Senate. Middletown, Edgewood, Monroe, Ross, and Hamilton would all receive increases higher than 10% over the two year-span if the proposed biennial budget is approved -- the highest percentage increases in the area. Valley View would see an 8% increase, and New Miami and Lakota would each receive about 4.5%. Fairfield City Schools would get about 3.6%, and Carlisle and Mason, the only other Warren County Schools to receive an increase from the budget would get less than 1% each.
Valley View, Lakota, Fairfield, and Carlisle would only receive increases in the second year of the budget. No funding increase is planning for nine area districts: Madison, Franklin, Talawanda, Preble Shawness, Lebanon, Springboro, Kings, Little Miami, and Wayne.
However, according to Middletown Treasurer Eric Sotzing, the increase is only a band-aid. The executive budget for 2008-2009 eliminated that guarantee because of "the limited resources available".
Middletown and Hamilton will receive the largest area increases per student at $659 and $549 respectively.
By the end of 2009, the state's share overall (of school funding) will have moved from the current 49% to 54%.