What central Ohio school districts have levies, other issues on the May 2 primary ballot?

Madison-Plains Local School District is asking voters to help fund replacing its schools with new facilities, while Marysville Exempted Village Schools say they are just trying to avoid an operating deficit of more than $9.6 million.

They are two of the seven central Ohio school districts with levies or other issues on the May 2 primary ballot. The others are: Granville, Heath, Johnstown-Monroe, Northridge and Walnut Township Local school districts.

Here's what voters in those districts will consider:

Madison-Plains wants to demolish crumbling schools, build new complex

Madison-Plains Local School District — a district of about 1,100 students in the southern part of Madison County, the southwestern-most part of Pleasant Township in Franklin County and a small part of northern Fayette County —wants to replace the district's aging buildings, one of which is nearly 70 years old.

The district is seeking voter approval of a 9.9-mill, 37-year property tax levy to fund the district's $63,047,000 local share of demolishing current buildings and constructing a new pre-kindergarten through high school complex, including career tech, on the current campus on Linson Road, west of Ohio 38 in Paint Township.

The levy would cost property owners $347 for each $100,000 of county appraised property value.

If Madison-Plains voters approve the local share, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission will contribute about $5.59 million toward the project.

Madison-Plains Superintendent Chad Eisler said the current buildings have exhausted their usable life and need to be replaced. The K-6 elementary school was built in 1956 and has been in continuous use for 67 years. The 7-12 intermediate building was constructed in 1978.

Eisler said both buildings have electrical and other problems. The district posted photos to its website highlighting the wear on the existing buildings.

Even the modular units on the campus, which half of the students must use for classrooms because of a lack of space in the existing buildings, are reaching the end of their 10- to 15-year lifespan, Eisler said.

"It is simply time, because of the age of our facilities, to build new facilities," Eisler said. "We're well overdue."

The district has not contracted for any conceptual designs or drawings for the new campus. The administration was advised the district should wait to see if the levy passes before it begins to look at that.

"Because then you get people voting on what the design looks like," Eisler said.

Under the current proposal, the intermediate building would be demolished and abated for asbestos, but the district is looking at the possibility of preserving some or all of the high school building, including the gym, according to an FAQ document on the district's website.

Eisler said the district kept the proposed millage rate just inside single digits to be mindful of taxpayers.

Last November, voters narrowly approved a 2.5-mill permanent improvement renewal levy, which replaced a levy dating back to 1987 and is expected to generate an estimated $400,761 in annual revenue.

"We're building momentum with our campaign," Eisler said. "And we are cautiously optimistic, I guess I'll say, that the voters will support this."

Marysville Exempted Village Schools seeking levy to avoid deficit

Marysville Exempted Village Schools are seeking voter approval of a five-year, 8.4-mill levy to cover what the district says is a looming $9,641,968 operating deficit.

If approved by voters in the district, which has more than 5,100 students from Marysville and much of Union County, property owners would pay $294 for every $100,000 of county appraised value.

Todd Johnson, Marysville schools' treasurer, said the district's deficit comes from the Ohio General Assembly's decision in 2005 to phase out tangible personal property tax, which applied to inventory held by businesses in Ohio. The district, which is home to large corporations like Scotts and Honda, received $10 million in annual revenue from the tax.

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The phase-out of the state tax has caused a steady decline in district revenue, Johnson said. Although the district is growing, revenues from state funding aren't covering the losses.

“It hits us harder than almost any district in the state,” Johnson said.

Marysville Exempted has not had a levy increase in over 15 years, Johnson said, but the district is expected to keep growing and will require more resources.

“While it is a significant ask, we've been doing pretty well for a long time without,” Johnson said. “It makes it seem more significant because our district isn't used to seeing a new levy every four or five years like some districts.”

Four school districts all or partly in Licking County have ballot issues

Granville Exempted Village School District is asking voters to renew its 0.75% income tax for five years to cover current operating expenses.

Heath City School District seeks approval of a substitute property tax of 14.5 mills for a continuing period of time for necessary expenses.

Johnstown-Monroe Local School District, which includes most of the City of Johnstown, Monroe Township, and portions of Liberty and Jersey Townships in Licking County, has two issues on the primary ballot.

The district is asking for renewal of a 4.8-mill property tax levy for five years to fund emergency requirements totaling $2.2 million. If approved by voters, the tax would cost property owners $168 for each $100,000 of the county's appraised value.

In addition, Johnstown-Monroe is seeking renewal of its existing 1% income tax for five years to fund current operating expenses.

Northridge Local School District — which covers Bennington, Burlington and Hartford townships and parts of Liberty, St. Albans and Jersey townships in Licking County; parts of Miller Township in Knox County; and small parts of Trenton Township in Delaware County — is seeking renewal of an existing 5.5-mill property tax levy for emergency requirements totaling $2.1 million. If approved by voters, the levy will cost property owners $193 for each $100,000 of the county's appraised value.

Walnut Township only Fairfield County school district on ballot

Walnut Township Local School District, which is based in Millersport, is asking voters to renew for 10 years its 1.75% earned income tax, which helps pay current operating expenses of the district.

The income tax accounted for more than 21% of district revenue in fiscal year 2022 and the tax is due to expire at the end of this year if not renewed.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Madison-Plains, Marysville among 7 schools with May 2 ballot issues