Schools seek tax money for buildings, operations: Check your district

A handful of proposals seeking new taxes for building construction are among nearly 20 school issues Dayton area voters may decide in November.

Bond issues for the Miami Valley Career Technology Center, and the Troy, Preble-Shawnee, Little Miami and Wayne local school districts all met Wednesday’s filing deadline with area board of elections.

They join more than a dozen levy requests – from districts such as Beavercreek, Kettering, Miamisburg and Springboro – seeking certification for the Nov. 7 ballot.

RELATED: MVCTC issue narrowly rejected by voters

The MVCTC is seeking a combined bond issue and levy for the second time this year after voters across Montgomery, Preble, Miami, Darke, Warren and Butler counties in May rejected the measure by a 52-48 margin.

With regional manufacturers and similar industries seeing a shortage of skilled labor in this area, the investment of more tax dollars makes sense, MVCTC Superintendent Nick Weldy.

“The big thing that we do, we provide skilled workers – both high school and adult – to the entire Miami Valley region,” he said. “And to do that we have to use the equipment that they’re using in manufacturing, in health care, in business and industry. But we also have to provide the workforce.”

RELATED: Troy board of education wants more schools

The issue, Weldy said, is the same one on the ballot in May: a 30-year term (with one piece peeling off after 10 years), while the other four are 37-38 years. The 1.43 mills would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $50.05 for the first 10 years, then $38.15 for the last 20 years.

If approved by voters, the state has agreed to pay 47 percent of a huge project to add classroom space, upgrade technology and improve safety at the center’s 50-year-old campus in Clayton.

“We’re going to have to repair and fix (facilities) at some point,” Weldy said. “So either we do it now and get 50 percent – basically – saved by the taxpayer. Or down the road we’ll have to ask for 100 percent.

“No school likes to be on the ballot and asking taxpayers for money,” he added. “But if we can make a savings and do that, we’d better. And that’s why we’re out there asking for this. Now’s the time because we can get that co-funding from the state.”

A combined bond issue/permanent improvement levy is being sought in Troy City Schools. The district wants voters to approve new taxes for primary education classrooms and improvements to the high school, according to the board of elections.

The measure seeks a 4.11-mill bond issue and a 0.5-mill measure to generate $47.9 million over 30 years. They would cost about $161 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home, according to the county auditor’s office.

RELATED: Little Miami seeks bond issue

Preble-Shawnee’s is also seeking a combined bond issue/permanent improvements as the district seeks to build new elementary, and junior/senior high schools, officials said.

The 2.5-mill bond issue would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $87.50 a year and combine with the income tax to raise $9 million, auditors said.

In Warren County, Wayne Local Schools is requesting a 4.68-mill bond issue over the same period to generate $25.625 million, according to that county’s board of elections.

It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $163.80 a year, county Auditor Matt Nolan said.

In Montgomery County, renewal levies will be sought in:

- Kettering - a 4.89-mill, continuing renewal, current cost $149.76 per home valued at $100,000 annually;

-Miamisburg - a 8.65-mill, five-year emergency renewal, about $265 a year;

- New Lebanon - a 7.0-mill, five-year renewal, $214.38 annually;

- New Lebanon - a five-year, permanent improvement renewal, $85.75 annually;

-Vandalia-Butler - a 6.99-mill renewal, $214.07 annually.

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In Greene County, renewals will be sought in:

- Beavercreek - a 6.0-mill, substitute continuing, $183.75 annually;

-Cedar Cliff – a 3.0-mill, five-year renewal, $63.29 annually.

In Warren County, a 7.4-mill substitute levy will be sought in Springboro.

In Miami County, renewals will be sought in:

-Piqua City Schools – a 5.42-mill, five-year emergency, $158.02 annually;

-Milton-Union – a 10.9-mill, five-year operating, $288.11 annually;

-Miami East – 3.5-mill, continuing operating,$56.40 annually.

MORE: Other articles by Nick Blizzard

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