LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- Olentangy Schools hopes taxpayers will approve a $235 million bond issue this November that district leaders said will not raise the tax rate.
“We are growing rapidly, very, very rapidly. We need to have space for students to succeed," Brandon Lester, school board president, said. "We need to make sure that this district still has high standards, but we can’t overburden the community in how we’re doing it. And we’re getting no help from the state level.”
Olentangy Schools said its elementary and high schools will exceed capacity next school year, and the district needs space for the projected 2,000 additional students who will enroll by 2028. If the bond issue passes, the district would begin construction on an 18th elementary and fifth high school in 2026. District Treasurer Ryan Jenkins said careful fiscal planning for this bond issue will allow them to collect the money they need without increasing tax rates.
Which candidates are unions backing in 2026?Lester said the two new buildings will address the district's most immediate crowding concerns. Both buildings would be built on district-owned land in the northwest portion of Olentangy Schools' boundaries. Lester said although the district has invested in the infrastructure they already have, new buildings would better student experiences. See previous coverage of the bond issue in the video player above.
“When you have overcrowded schools, there’s only so many spots on a football team, there’s only so many roles in a play," Lester said. "We want to make sure that those opportunities are there for students.”
Overcrowding has been a concern for some time, and Lester said the district went from one school building in 1990 to 28 today. The board had hoped to build five new buildings with a levy two years ago, but the ballot measure failed. Instead of returning to the ballot quickly, Lester said the district spent the past two years adjusting their millage to stabilize taxes for residents and prepare for November's bond issue.
Millage refers to mills, the rate at which property is taxed. Schools collect property tax revenue equal to the total number of mills they are approved for. Jenkins said the district cut 1.5 mills over the past two years, lowering collections to 6 mills and preventing taxes from raising by nearly $10 million for Olentangy residents.
Ohio bill could offer tax deduction for church donationsJenkins said by reducing millage, the district now has an opportunity to leverage bonds without increasing the tax rate and, consequently, taxes. The bonds will be repaid over the next 37 years and allow Olentangy to raise and spend the $235 million needed for two new buildings. Jenkins said Olentangy has done this before in 2001, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Superintendent Todd Meyer said waiting two years to set up November's bond issue protected taxpayers but increased construction costs. He said estimates have increased by $10.8 million between the levy request two years ago and today.
If the new buildings are approved, Lester said there will be redistricting. He said he knows no one likes redistricting, but building new schools will make the process a bit smoother. Lester said Olentangy will be able to place people closer to their houses and offer more reliable boundaries.
The district is inviting community members and families to learn more at scheduled conversation opportunities with school leaders ahead of the Nov. 4 election. The next meeting will be Friday at 8 a.m. at Mr. Bean Coffee, and remaining meeting times can be found here.
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