2024-03-20 02:48:39
Olentangy Local Schools and other districts seeking levies for new school buildings on Tuesday got strong rejections from voters across central Ohio, according to unofficial results.
Olentangy, Heath City Schools, Fairbanks Local Schools, Madison-Plains Local Schools, North Fork Local Schools and Teays Valley Local Schools all had issues on the ballot for districts seeking to renovate and expand existing buildings or construct new ones entirely. None appeared to have passed.
Olentangy Local Schools levy, bond package fails by wide margin
Voters rejected an Olentangy Local School District levy Tuesday that would construct five new school buildings, according to final unofficial results. With all precincts reporting, 63.35% were once morest the levy package with 36.65% in favor.
The levy would have helped pay for new school buildings: the district’s fifth high school, seventh middle school, and 18th, 19th and 20th elementary schools as the district continues to experience meteoric growth.
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The 4.25-mill levy package sought by the district is actually two issues: The first, a 3-mill levy, would have brought in $19 million a year for operating costs such as staff salaries. The second part, a 1.25-mill permanent improvement levy, would have generated $7.9 million a year toward maintenance, repair and upkeep of facilities. The levies would cost homeowners an additional $148.75 per $100,000 of a person’s county appraised property value.
It also would have authorized a ‘no additional millage’ bond package for the district to seek up to $350,000,000 in bond proceeds to construct new facilities.
The district might not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.
Earlier in the day, Superintendent Todd Meyer thanked Olentangy voters for taking time Tuesday to make an informed decision regarding the levy.
“We think we’ve done a really good job in informing the community regarding the facts of this levy,” Meyer said.
The 2024 ballot issue for the district came following the Delaware County auditor’s office reappraised properties in the fastest growing county in Ohio, The Dispatch previously reported, but district officials said residents might only expect a 3 to 5% tax increase from the reappraisal.
Meyer said a levy failure would mean class size increases across the district.
Olentangy is now the fourth largest school district in the state, with 23,272 students in grades K-12, trailing just Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland. As district continues to project growth, Meyer said the buildings need to be there to meet demand.
“We need facilities to accommodate that growth,” Meyer said. “Because it will continue to come.”
Heath City Schools levy falls
Heath City Schools in Licking County has failed to pass its levy, according to final unofficial results. With all precincts reporting, 61.5% of voters rejected the levy with 38.5% voting in favor.
The district was asking voters to approve a 5.3-mill bond issue and a 4.75-mill levy to build a new elementary school on the current Stevenson Elementary School property on Cynthia Street and to renovate, improve, and expand current schools. If approved by voters, it would cost an additional $166 for each $100,000 of county auditor appraised value.
Fairbanks Local Schools levy fails
The Fairbanks Local School District in Union and Madison counties lost an income tax and property tax levy. With all precincts reporting, the issue lost with 55.29% voting once morest it, according to unofficial results.
The district asked voters to approve a 0.25% income tax hike and a 1.85-mill property tax to raise $23 million to complete renovating the shared middle and high school building, adding 19,000 square feet to the front of the building, a 12,000-square-foot gymnasium and other work.
Madison-Plains Local Schools fails bond issue
Madison Plains Local Schools, located largely in Madison County but partially in Franklin County, failed its bond issue, according to unofficial results. With all precincts reporting, 66.3% of voters rejected the measure and 37.7% of voters were in favor.
The district was seeking approval of a 5.4-mill bond issue that would have raised $55.36 million to build a pre-K though grade 12 building on the current campus.
If approved, it would have cost homeowners an additional $189 in property taxes for each $100,000 of county appraised value.
North Fork Local Schools bond issue rejected
North Fork Local Schools failed its bond issue effort, according to unofficial results. With all precincts reporting, 62.5% of voters rejected the levy with 37.4% voting in favor.
The 7.1-mill bond issue proposed by North Fork would have raised $58 million for a new middle school building, as well as funds for renovating, improving and expanding existing schools in the district, which is located in Licking and Knox counties.
If it were approved by voters, the issue would cost property owners an additional $249 per $100,000 of their county auditor’s appraised value in the first year and $185 per $100,000 starting in the second year.
Teays Valley Local Schools levy fails
The Teays Valley Local School District, centered in northeast Pickaway County but which includes parts of Franklin and Fairfield counties, saw its levy fail. With all precincts reporting, the levy has 66.1% voting once morest the measure with 33.9% in support, according to unofficial results.
The district asked voters to approve a 5.3-mill bond issue to raise more than $96.5 million to construct new intermediate schools and make improvements to others. If approved by voters, the measure would cost property owners $187 for each $100,000 of their county auditor’s appraised value
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