“Paying off Debt Means Lower Taxes for Loveland City School District Residents”

An Op-Ed from Loveland City School District Treasurer John Espy

Loveland City School District has paid off its last outstanding bond and is now debt-free. A construction bond was issued in 1998, and after nearly three decades of sound financial management, the bond has now been paid in full. The result is lower property taxes for Loveland City School District property owners.

In 1998, district voters approved a bond for school construction and renovation projects. The money was primarily used to build Loveland Intermediate School and renovate Loveland Middle School. When they were issued, the bonds were funded at 5.17 mills. In the years since, the bonds have been refunded, or essentially refinanced, at lower rates – the most recent being .95 mills. The final payment on the bond debt was made in December of 2024, and local property taxes are no longer being collected to repay that debt.

With the repayment of the bond, the average property owner in Loveland City School District is now paying about $136 less per year in local property taxes. Unless you looked closely at your most recent tax bill, you might have missed this bit of good news. The district is now debt-free, and all of our building bonds have been paid in full, marking a major financial milestone for our schools and community.

As the Treasurer of Loveland City School District, I value transparent financial reporting and keeping our commitment to being a responsible steward of taxpayer funds. District leadership remains committed to transparency and providing you with the information you need to understand how your tax dollars are being managed.

School funding in Ohio is complex, but our community has made it clear they want to learn more about the subject. Our State School Funding Committee, School Finance Town Hall last fall, and our ongoing Community Advisory Team Meetings have all allowed me to explain school finances to our community. I’ve also recently launched a series of educational “Finance Friday” videos and social media posts. The videos explain some foundational topics in school finance so our community is better informed. I hope you’ll take the time to watch my “Finance Friday” videos and share them with your friends. I also ask that you share the good news that Loveland City School District is debt-free after keeping our commitment to paying off the 1998 construction bonds.

If you ever have questions about our district finances, please let me know. I can be reached at espyjo@lovelandschools.org.