COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus branch of the NAACP spoke out against the Columbus City Schools Board of Education’s decision to put a nearly $100 million annual levy on the November ballot.
The group said in a letter released Wednesday that they do not endorse the levy. Just last May, the local NAACP gave a vote of “no confidence” to the board for “failure to provide information on the $250,000 of taxpayer’s dollars that was spent on the recent superintendent search.”
The levy, if approved, would cost taxpayers nearly $270 per $100,000 of property value each year.
More than $38 million will go toward operating expenses and more than $60 million will be for maintenance of the school buildings.
In their letter, the NAACP said in part:
“Within Franklin County, there are more than 100,000 season citizen homeowners. The levy will hurt season citizens and may force them from their homes. The re-evaluation of home and property appraisals will increase by 31% or more. Small businesses, faith-based community, renters, and low to moderate income households will be negatively impacted if this levy passes.”
Last year, the board planned to put a levy and bond issue on the November 2022 ballot, but removed the issue saying it was not the right time to ask voters for a permanent improvement levy.