Marysville Exempted Village Schools won big in the May 6 primary amid a mixed bag for central Ohio districts, with all four bond issues failing and a renewal levy passing.
After two previous failed attempts and amid financial uncertainty, Marysville Exempted passed its emergency levy by a wide margin of 61.5% to 38.5%, according to unofficial results.
Jonathan Alder, meanwhile, appears to have failed by a slim margin.
All local bond issues failed, with local districts seeking financing for new and renovated buildings to manage growing student populations.
School levies in recent cycles have struggled to receive voter approval, with a mixed bag in November 2024, all local levies failing in the March 2024 primary and only a handful passing in the November 2023 election.
Voter appetite for supporting local levies has appeared to be diminished in recent election cycles by 2023 property reappraisals throughout the region, which led to soaring property valuations throughout much of Franklin and neighboring counties.
Groveport Madison Local Schools bond appears to fail
Voters soundly rejected the Groveport Madison Local Schools bond issue with more than 68% opposed, according to final unofficial results.
Groveport Madison Local Schools was seeking a 37-year, $77.2-million bond issue to generate local funding to construct three new middle schools and expand Groveport Madison High School. The total cost of the project was estimated at $134.8 million. The state would contribute $71.4 million toward the initiative through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC).If it were approved, the bond would have cost property owners an additional $82 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, equaling 2.33 mills.
Jonathan Alder Local Schools fails by slim margins
Voters in the Jonathan Alder Local Schools, which covers parts of Union, Madison and Franklin counties, rejected a bond levy there by 31 votes with 100% of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the three counties. It appears the percentage opposing the measure was just over the amount needed to qualify for an automatic recount.
There were 15 provisional ballots cast in the race in Madison County and 20 in Union County. Those counties’ boards of elections will determine if those votes meet the legal requirements to be counted. A narrowing of the margin could prompt an automatic recount.
Jonathan Alder Local Schools was seeking approval of a bond levy totaling $70,625,000 over 37 years to build a new junior high school and to renovate, add-on or convert several other district buildings. The state, through the OSFC, would contribute $14.5 million toward the initiative.
If approved, voters would have paid $179 per $100,000 of auditor appraised property value, equaling 5.12 mills over the course of the 37-year bond.
Marysville Exempted Village Schools wins big after repeated losses
Voters overwhelmingly approved the Marysville Exempted Village Schools emergency levy, which passed by a margin of 61.5% to 38.5%, according to unofficial results.
Marysville Exempted Village Schools was seeking an emergency levy of 5.5 mills over 10 years following the failure of two previous levies that have led to staff and service reductions in the district.
Taxpayers will pay an additional $192.50 per $100,000 of property tax value for 10 years.
A similar November vote for an emergency levy in the Marysville Exempted Village Schools failed by a narrow vote — a smaller margin than when the initial levy ask failed in 2023. The measure failed by a margin of 400 votes, with 51% against and 49% favoring the levy.
After the district’s operating levy failed in 2023, the district made cuts to kindergarten programs, staff and more.The district also cut its school resource officer program, and the board voted over the course of several meetings in November to raise the athletics fees to $575 and arts fees to $235 in a 3-2 vote, up from the previous fees of $200.
Southwest Licking Local Schools fails by wide margin
Voters rejected the Southwest Licking Local Schools bond levy by a wide margin, with 63.7% of voters against the measure and 36.3% in favor, according to unofficial results with all precincts reporting across Licking and Fairfield counties.
Southwest Licking Schools was seeking 4.20 mills to fund a 35-year bond issue for constructing school facilities. The district said the bond would fund a new middle school for fifth and sixth grade students, an expansion of the high school with additional parking, and a training facility and aquatic center in partnership with the YMCA.
If the measure had been approved by voters, it would have cost property taxpayers $147 per $100,000 annually for the term of the bond.
Teays Valley Local Schools bond issue fails by wide margin
Voters rejected the Teays Valley Local Schools bond issue 68.6% to 31.4%, according to unofficial results with all precincts within the school district in Pickaway, Franklin and Fairfield counties reporting.
Teays Valley Schools was seeking 3.26 mills to fund a 37-year bond issue that would raise $64.39 million for the construction of two intermediate school buildings. If the measure had been approved by voters, it would have cost property owners $52.50 a year per $100,000 of county auditor appraised property value.
In November, Teays Valley Schools sought a larger $96-million bond, but the measure was defeated with 75% of voters opposing it.
Walnut Township Local Schools renewal levy narrowly passes
Voters appear to have approved the Walnut Township Local School District’s 4-mill, five-year renewal levy, with 50.83% in favor of the levy and 49.17% against, according to unofficial results. The vote does not qualify for an automatic recount.
The levy is for the purpose of providing for the emergency funding requirements of the school district. The original levy was passed at 6.3 mills, but is now being collected at 4 mills.
The measure will cost property taxpayers $140 for each $100,000 of appraised property value, and is expected to generate $1 million annually.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Marysville Schools wins big amid mixed bag for central Ohio school levies: see results
Reporting by Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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