As the Bowling Green Economic Development Executive Committee, we are writing in support of the upcoming Bowling Green City Schools (BGCS) five-year operating levy. As BGCS has not received new operating funds from voters since 2010, this levy is a critical investment in our community’s future.
One of the key drivers of successful economic development is the educational systems within a community. Companies desire to locate within a community where their employees will want to work, live, and raise a family. Employees will locate in communities where the most opportunities for their families exist.
As a community, we have a choice before us. We can invest in our schools and the economic future of this community. Or we can choose not to invest and accept devastating consequences. The school board voted in February to approve $2.6 million in budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year, including the elimination of 29 teacher and staff positions, a reduction of transportation and bus routes and the complete elimination of sports, extracurricular activities, field trips, and gifted programs. These cuts represent real, tangible harm to our children’s educational opportunities and our community’s future competitiveness.
For businesses already invested in Bowling Green and those looking at this community as a potential site for growth, this levy represents more than an educational expense. It is an investment in:
- • A skilled, prepared workforce
- • Quality of life for employees and their families
- • Maintaining property values
We urge every resident to recognize that supporting this levy is not just about funding schools – it’s about investing in Bowling Green’s economic and social infrastructure.
On May 6, vote YES for the Bowling Green City Schools operating levy.
Kati Thompson, Executive Director
On behalf of Bowling Green Economic Development Executive Committee
