Olentangy has enacted more than $15.7 million in cost-reduction measures since 2008. In many cases, these cost reductions meant staff members took on additional duties when other positions were eliminated. Administrators and members of the district’s two classified unions had no base-wage increase this year, and members of the teachers union will have no base-wage increase next year. All Olentangy employees who take a family healthcare plan currently pay 20 percent of the premium, and now the district is looking for other ways to cut healthcare costs. The district has also gone through a very involved process to remove itself from a health-care consortium, which helped the negotiate lower healthcare costs when it was smaller. At this point, the district’s size makes it a viable group on its own. Due to voting restrictions in the consortium the district could not easily, if at all, make changes to its plan design. This change will allow Olentangy to explore the diverse plan options popular in the private sector. Even if the levy passes, Olentangy has committed to making at least $4.5 million in additional cuts. These cuts include staffing cuts and at least $2 million in savings by addressing long-term sustainability of salary and benefits through negotiations. Olentangy also has several community committees that allow residents to share their expertise from the business world. One of these groups is the Cost Efficiency Committee, which researches cost-savings options and reports to the superintendent. Another example is Project 2020, which is seeking out alternate educational delivery models in hopes of avoiding the cost of a fourth high school.