The Jonathan Alder Local Schools Board of Education has voted to explore legal action against the Union County treasurer after he sent mailers days before the election — which members said hurt the district’s bond effort that was unofficially defeated by just 12 votes.
Union County Treasurer Andrew J. Smarra attended the Nov. 11 board meeting, where board members grilled him about the mailers before voting unanimously to pursue legal action against him.
Board Member Bruce Hooley, who was visibly upset with Smarra, ultimately motioned the district weigh legal action against the treasurer.
“He has caused us irreparable damage in our district with his actions — which were malicious, despite what he says,” Hooley said.
The motion asks the superintendent to explore options to seek monetary reimbursement for the levy campaign from the Union County Treasurer’s Office. Superintendent James Miller said his office is already pursuing legal counsel to explore next steps.
While walking away, Smarra can be heard on a recording of the meeting saying “good luck” as Hooley introduces the motion to pursue legal action.
The dispute between the board and the treasurer comes after around 13,000 Union County residents received mailers beginning Nov. 3, informing them that property taxes were rising. In the mailer, Smarra provided property owners their estimated tax figures and noted that it is the county auditor’s job to perform a visual inspection every six years to help reassess each parcel.
The Jonathan Alder bond issue ultimately failed by an unofficial dozen votes pending the certification of provisional ballots by the boards of elections in Union, Madison and Franklin counties and a likely recount.
Smarra previously told The Dispatch that there was “nothing insidious about the timing” of the mailers and that it was not his intention to influence the election.
In the fallout from the mailer, Union County Auditor Andrea Weaver previously said Smarra never told her the letters were being sent and the figures he provided weren’t updated or complete. She called the mailing “completely wrong and unnecessary.”
Board members grill Union County treasurer
Board President Sonia Walker said during the Nov. 11 meeting that Smarra “did no service to the Jonathan Alder School District.”
“You did a grave disservice,” Walker said. “It’s not about just passing the bond — it’s way bigger than that. You’ve sown distrust in our community because of your need to perform what you believe to be your civic duty, which you’ve never done in the past.”
Smarra told the board that his actions were “in support of the taxpayers, not any other political subdivision.”
During a heated back-and-forth between Hooley and Smarra, Hooley questioned how a Facebook post made by Smarra claiming his mailer was giving voters more information reconciles with his statements to The Dispatch and in a letter to Miller claiming the intent was not to influence the election.
“You’re trying to save your bacon because you know you got way out of line,” Hooley said.
Smarra said that the public should have a right to know from their elected officials “information that could be detrimental to their well-being.”
“I think I have an obligation to let people know their taxes are going up,” Smarra said.
Board Vice President Erica Detweiler said the board “was not going to drag ourselves to (Smarra’s) level.” She said Smarra’s actions spoke to the board’s point that there was suspiciousness in the timing of the mailer.
Members of the meeting audience also heckled Smarra throughout the interaction, saying the letter was “suspicious” and asking him why he didn’t apologize.
Jonathan Alder bond levy failed by a dozen votes
On the Nov. 4 ballot, Jonathan Alder was seeking a proposed property tax levy of 5.12 mills for 37 years to fund a $70,625,000 bond issue for school construction and improvements. If it had been approved, property owners would pay $179 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value.
In unofficial results, the levy failed by just 12 votes — 2,242 to 2,254 — across the district located in parts of Union, Madison and Franklin counties. The bond issue will likely be subject to a recount because of the tight margin, not to mention the dozens of provisional ballots that could swing the result. During a May attempt at a similar bond issue, it failed by 16 votes.
A representative for the Madison County Board of Elections said a consolidated recount of the Jonathan Alder bond issue will likely be conducted in December when the three counties the district is in have conducted their recounts and certifications.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect the official results of the May levy, which failed by a margin of 16 votes after a recount.
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: Jonathan Alder eyes legal action against Union County treasurer in fiery board meeting
Reporting by Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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