WESTERVILLE, Ohio — The Westerville City School Board of Education unanimously voted to put a combined bonds and levies issue on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Board members first discussed the proposed ballot issue in June. The measures would help finance infrastructure projects for some schools in the district and support the current operating budget.
The school board voted on Monday to put it on the ballot.
“We are just overcrowded, our classrooms are smaller. We were built in the 60s so we have some upgrades that need to happen,” said Cherrington Elementary School teacher and parent of the district Julie Porretta.
The ballot measure states that the bonds would be up to $140 million that would be repaid annually over a maximum of 37 years.
The money would be used for constructing school facilities and renovating, improving and constructing additions to buildings. The ballot measure does not specify what schools would be improved.
The measure also includes two levies. One of them, a 1.66 mills levy, would amount to $58 for each $100,000 of the appraised value. It would help pay the annual debt charges on the bonds and debt charges.
The second levy, 4.9 mills, would pay for current operating expenses, according to the ballot measure. It would cost Westerville residents $172 for each $100,000 of the appraised value.
District Treasurer Nicole Marshall says these improvements are necessary.
“Look at the individualized instruction, needs and small learning spaces and some of our special education programs. The buildings we have built in the 1960s aren’t really conducive to 2024 and beyond teaching and learning,” she said.
If the levy is approved, it will be payable by 2025.
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