Area districts pursue building plans

11/2/2008

Voters will decide Tuesday on dozens of money requests from school districts throughout northwest Ohio, including several bond issue proposals for new school buildings.

Among the districts looking to build is Fulton County s Pettisville Local, which hopes to replace a building that dates to 1929 with a 97,618-square-foot combined primary and secondary school building. The new facility would have larger classrooms, geothermal heating and cooling, video surveillance, and a combined cafeteria-auditorium to seat 600. The old building would be largely demolished, with the exception of its varsity gym, library addition, and part of the elementary wing.

To finance these plans, Pettisville is asking voters to approve a 7.36-mill, 28-year bond issue and accompanying 0.5-mill continuing permanent improvement levy that s required for the district to receive Ohio School Facilities Commission funds for building maintenance.

The ballot issue would cost $240 annually for the owner of a $100,000 home. Those older than 65 would not be taxed on the first $25,000 of home valuation.

The Fremont City School District is asking voters for money to build a new middle school to replace one with sections that date to the early 1900s. For this project, the district is seeking approval of a combined 28-year, 2.10-mill bond issue and a 1.35-mill continuing levy for permanent improvements.

The proposed permanent improvement levy would renew, yet reduce, the existing 2-mill levy that passed in 2004. Altogether the measure would cost $55.40 a year for the owner of a home valued at $90,000.

The Fostoria City School District in Seneca County is seeking a 28-year, 3.1-mill bond issue and state-required 0.5-mill continuing levy for the construction and maintenance of a $22 million elementary school. The plan includes renovations for the middle school.

The bond issue would cost $110 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

In Hancock County s Liberty-Benton Local School District, voters are asked to support 28-year bond issues for 4.3 mills and 1.1 mills to renovate and construct new elementary and middle school facilities in the district s kindergarten through 12th-grade building.

The full measure, which includes a state-required 23-year, 0.5-mill levy for maintenance, would cost an estimated $181 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home. The district s voters in August narrowly defeated a similar 7-mill levy from which the board had pledged to collect 5.97 mills.

The North Baltimore Local School District in Wood County is seeking a combined 28-year, 7.44-mill bond issue and 25-year, 0.25-percent earned income tax for construction of a nearly $20 million high school and middle school building to replace a structure that dates to 1927.

The measure would cost approximately $316 a year for an individual with a home valued at $100,000 and an annual income in the mid-$30,000 range.

Voters in school districts without bond issues on the ballot may find requests for other tax requests:

• In Fulton County, the Pike-Delta-York Local School District is asking voters to renew a five-year, 4.1-mill operating levy.

• Henry County s Holgate Local School District is seeking renewal of a five-year, 2.39-mill operating levy.

• The Napoleon Area City School District is asking for renewal of a 7.9-mill-levy for operations. Traditionally a five-year levy, it would become a continuing tax.

• The Findlay City School District is asking voters to renew a five-year, 5.9-mill operating levy.

• Voters in the Bellevue City School District will be asked to approve a new 3.75-mill, 10-year levy for operating expenses. It would cost $9.57 a month $114.84 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

• The EHOVE vocational district is seeking a 0.5-mill replacement levy for five years. The district covers Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties, with some voters in Seneca, Sandusky, Lorain, Ashland, and Richland counties.

• The Hopewell-Loudon Local School District in Seneca County is seeking renewal of a five-year, 6.32-mill operating levy.

• The Old Fort Local School District is seeking renewal of its 1 percent, five-year income tax for operations.

Contact JC Reindl at:jreindl@theblade.comor 419-724-6050.