Heath City Schools substitute levy, Johnstown and Northridge renewals on May 2 ballot.
NEWARK ― Rather than trying to pass renewal levies in 2024 and 2027, Heath City Schools is taking a bit of a different approach.
On the May 2 ballot, the district will combine those two into a 14.5-mill substitute levy.
"The issue passed in 2007 raised $2.5 million, and the new levy in 2013 raised $2 million," explained superintendent Trevor Thomas. "They were up for renewal in 2024 and 2027, and if this substitute levy passes, those will go away. The same amount of money will be collected, and there be no tax increase for existing home owners. The only increase would be if someone builds a new house. Of course, if a lot of additional homes are built, it would generate more revenue for us."
Thomas noted that previous renewals were passed at about a 70 percent rate.
"This is like a renewal, but we're always worried about voter turnout," he said. "We passed a permanent improvement levy in 2020, and it was by only 58 votes. It was during COVID, so voter turnout was low. It was very important, because it helped stabilize our budget."
The 4.0-mill permanent improvement levy generated $1.1 million per year, costing taxpayers $140 annually for every $100,000 of home value, or $11.67 per month. It provides a separate fund from educational monies to support facilities' needs. The district had not asked for any money since 2013.
On the repair list in 2020 were replacing roofs, HVAC, parking lots and buses. Those repairs were expected to average $941,000 per year through 2025.
Heath's newest building, the high school, is 20 years old . The middle school, which was originally the high school, was built in 1961, and the district also operates Garfield (grades K-2) and Stevenson (grades 3-5) elementaries. Garfield opened in 1961 and Stevenson in 1964.
The district is on track to pay off the 5.3-mill bond on the high school by 2025. When the high school is paid off, it will save a $100,000 homeowner $185.50 per year.
A new K-5 elementary school, combining Garfield and Stevenson, is on the horizon. It would be built on the 35 acres the district owns behind Stevenson and the district office, Thomas said. However, state funding for the new school, which will cover 42 percent of the cost, will not be available until 2025.
Also on the May 2 ballot are renewal levies for Johnstown-Monroe and Northridge Local Schools.
Johnstown actually has two, 5-year renewals up for vote: a 1% income tax levy and a 4.8-mill, $2.2 million emergency property tax levy.
These two levies are not new taxes. Both are existing levies, previously approved by Johnstown voters, that are set to expire within the next two years.
If the renewals are approved, they will fund day-to-day operations for Johnstown without increasing current tax levels. The two levies currently generate a combined $7.1 million annually – which represents approximately 30% of the district’s annual operating expenses. Johnstown's enrollment, currently at over 1,700 students, has increased by about 150 since 2017.
Northridge's levy is a 5.5-mill property tax renewal, an extension of the current operating levy, for five years and is also not a tax increase. This renewal supports day-to-day operations, including teacher salaries, instructional supplies and technology, superintendent Scott Schmidt said.
All these proposals are on the May 2 ballot. Early voting is ongoing with absentee ballots and early in-person voting.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than May 1. If returning an absentee in person, it must be received by the board of elections by 7:30 p.m. May 2. April 30 is the last day for early in-person voting at the Licking County Board of Elections office, located at 20 S. Second St. in Newark.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Heath substitute levy, Johnstown and Northridge renewals up for vote.
