COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Schools and other districts across central Ohio had levies and bonds on the ballot.
The levies and bonds would help continue and/or provide additional funding for standard operations in many districts. Others also address expanding and creating new buildings to accompany more students in growing suburbs.
Here's a breakdown of the school levies and bonds on this year's ballot:
Voters have passed a $100 million annual levy proposed by the state's largest school district, Columbus City Schools. The levy will cost taxpayers nearly $270 per $100,000 of taxable property value each year.
With the levy passing, it would spend:
- $27.5 million for salaries connected to nearly 300 mental health positions funded by pandemic relief funds
- $1.2 million to expand pre-kindergarten programs in six locations
- $19 million to continue existing family and student support services
- $26.8 million for infrastructure improvements; like roofing, HVAC, plumbing and electrical work
- $6.75 million for athletic site improvements
- $23.4 million for renovating learning spaces; like classrooms, auditoriums and cafeterias
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Voters approved a $145 million bond issue with a 7.9-mill operating levy.
The school district said the levy will provide new revenue to help sustain operations and avoid a financial deficit if passed. Additionally, the money will be used to expand the current preschool and help build a new elementary school to accommodate more students.
The levy will increase taxes by $276.50 for each $100,000 of market/appraised values.
Voters have passed the Canal Winchester Schools levy. The renewal of the five-year, 10.2-million substitute levy will generate about $6.8 million each year for expenses for the school district.
The levy for the Union County school district would support the second phase of the Fairbanks Master Facility Plan. which costs an estimated $34 million.
The levy will be two separate issues on the ballot. In the first ballot issue, voters will decide to make the current .25% permanent improvement income tax continuing. This will allow the district to finance $11 million against it. As a termed levy, the district cannot leverage these current taxes. This quarter percent is something district residents already pay.
The second issue would allow an additional .25% income tax and 1.85 mil in property tax to raise $23 million. Both taxes will be termed for 30 years.
The school district is proposing a 7.5 million new facility-voted bond issue for the construction of a new building to hold students from preschool to 12th grade.
Voters have approved the 6.3 million renewal operating levy for Groveport Madison Local Schools. The levy will help the district maintain current operations, including staffing levels, programs and activities.
The school district is seeking to renew its five-year, 1% income tax that funds 20% of its operations and generates over $4 million in revenue annually.