COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Schools and other districts across central Ohio will have levies and bonds on the ballot this Nov. 7.
The levies and bonds on the ballot 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.
Issue 11 is on the ballot this year for the state's largest school district. Columbus City Schools is asking voters to support a $100 million annual levy.
If it passes, it would cost taxpayers nearly $270 per $100,000 of taxable property value each year. The school district says if the levy passes, 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
The Columbus branch of the NAACP spoke out against the levy, arguing that the levy "will hurt season citizens and may force them from their homes."
If the levy fails, CCS Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman said the district could lose hundreds of employees who support mental health services.
Voters will decide whether to approve a $145 million bond issue with a 7.9-mill operating levy.
The school district said the levy would provide new revenue to help sustain operations and avoid a financial deficit if passed. Additionally, the money would be used to expand the current preschool and help build a new elementary school to accommodate more students.
The levy would increase taxes by $276.50 for each $100,000 of market/appraised values.
If the levy does not pass, the school district said it could result in hiring freezes and elimination of some positions, including instructional coaches.
The renewal of the five-year, 10.2-mill substitute levy would generate about $6.8 million each year for expenses for the school district if voters approve it. The existing levy was first approved in 2009 and is set to expire in 2024.
If the levy fails in November, the district will be in a financial deficit in the 2025 fiscal year.
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 mill new facility-voted bond issue for the construction of a new building to hold students from preschool to 12th grade.
The 6.3 million renewal operating levy would help the district maintain current operations, including staffing levels, programs and activities. If the levy fails, the district says it would lose $6 million each year, resulting in budget cuts to some programs.
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.