COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 4.9 mill levy and 1.66 mill bond issue placed on the ballot by Westerville City Schools failed.
The money was going to be used for constructing school facilities and renovating, improving and constructing additions to buildings.
The levy was going to be placed on the ballot in 2023, but district officials said they were able to use available resources to delay the ballot request. The district said it asked for funds on this ballot due to expiring federal funds, cuts in state funding and increased costs.
The district said on its website that without additional resources, it will need to re-engage the community for input. Facility projects would be delayed and officials would then need to evaluate how to address an additional $20.8 million operating revenue shortfall.
A spokesperson for Westerville City Schools provided the following statement to 10TV:
“We want to take a moment to address the recent outcome of the school ballot issue vote. As we shared previously, this levy and bond issue was needed to maintain our current programming and services for students and was an important step toward enhancing our security and facilities across the District. We will carefully analyze the feedback we have received and prioritize student programming and services against available funding.
“Our commitment to providing a high-quality education for our students remains strong. There are many questions on how this decision will impact our District. While we know the facilities projects identified from this ballot issue will be halted, we ask for your patience as we work to determine the complete impact to our school community.”
