It’s worth knowing: Simple facts about Worthington Schools ballot Issues 6, 7

When Worthington City School District voters go to the polls Nov. 8 or earlier, they will find two school-related issues on the ballot.

Here's a quick-reference guide to what the issues mean.

Issue 6

Issue 6 is a combined $234 million bond levy and 1.9-mill continuing permanent-improvements levy.

Bond issue: If approved, funds would finance improvements at both high schools. A community task force, consisting of more than 50 school and community representatives, provided recommendations on work related to the bond. The work at Thomas Worthington proposed by the phase 2 task force includes construction of a new academic building with classrooms, science labs, restrooms, lockers, commons spaces and administration spaces and a new baseball stadium; replacement of underlying building systems, such as roofing, HVAC and windows; addition of a new student entrance; and renovations of the athletics and fine-arts wings.

The cost of this work is projected to range from $116.6 million to $143.2 million, according to the phase 2 presentation.

At Worthington Kilbourne, proposed capital improvements include renovations to the science labs, media center, turf fields and athletics locker rooms; construction of a visitors fieldhouse space; replacement of such underlying building systems as roofing, HVAC and windows; and improvements to the parking lot.

Attention, Franklin County voters:Auditor explains levy estimator, 2023 reappraisal process

Projected costs range from $59.9 million to $84.5 million.

PI levy: Districtwide, it would fund repairs, technology updates, bus replacements, and provide upkeep of athletic fields, equipment and school grounds.

Issue 7

Issue 7 is an incremental operating levy starting with an additional 2.9 mills in 2023 – or an additional $101.50 annually per $100,000 of appraised property value – followed by three 2.0-mill increments in the next three years – or an additional $70 per $100,000 of appraised property value each year from 2024 to 2026. If approved, the levy would fund new staff to keep up with inflation and growing enrollment.

For and against Worthington Schools ballot issues

Campaigning for the Issue: Worthington Community for Schools, coleaders Erin Sogal and Jenny Fuerst. Website is forworthingtonschools.com with frequently asked questions and answers.

Sogal: (On Issue 6) Our high schools are aging and they need updates. Just like we take care of our homes, we need to take care of our schools. For the PI request, it won’t get any cheaper to make those repairs. We would spend more money down the line. My take is that I rather pay it while it’s cheaper. Repairs will get more costly. (On Issue 7): There’s a massive teaching shortage across the country. This is how we can maintain a quality education and teachers in our district.

Organized opposition: No formal opposition has been identified, but ThisWeek has received questions about conflicting figures regarding the bond issue's true millage. The bond issue is listed by the auditor's office and the Franklin County Board of Elections as 4.56 mills. At that full rate, the annual cost per $100,000 of home value would be $159.60. At an anticipated rate of 1.0 mill, it's expected to be $35 per $100,000 annually, according to district officials.

Understanding millages

Bond millage: Although taxpayers would take on more debt by approving a bond issue this fall, a large percentage of that would be offset by $47.5 million in debt that’s scheduled to come off the books between now and 2028, as well as a tax rate that’s scheduled to decrease by approximately 3.6 mills – or $126 per $100,000 of property value, according to district officials.

Currently, the district has $113.8 million in outstanding debt at a bond rate of 5.6 mills.

Also, although the bond issue is listed on the Franklin County Board of Elections website as 4.56 mills, the district anticipates that it will collect only 1.0 mill, according to a disclaimer posted on the Franklin County auditor's website.

District treasurer TJ Cusick: The district's current bond millage is 5.6 mills, and it will go down to 2 mills gradually between now and 2028. Working with our underwriters, we plan to structure the new debt so that the millage goes up to approximately 6.6 mills ‒ a net increase of 1 additional mill. That is always just a projection since the market will fluctuate between now and when the bonds are sold; however, we did utilize a buffer in the 4.6-mill projections for expected interest rate increases.

Franklin County Auditor's Office: The text of the bond issue on the auditor's office website reads as follows:

Issue #6: Issue bonds for the purpose of constructing school facilities and renovating and expanding existing school facilities, including under a program of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; furnishing and equipping the same; improving the sites thereof; and acquiring land and interests in land as necessary in connection therewith in the principal amount of $234,000,000, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of 38 years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period 4.56 mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to $0.456 for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?

[Disclaimer] The Worthington School District has outstanding bonds that will be retired over the next few years pursuant to their terms. While the language that will appear on the ballot states this bond issue will be an increase of 4.56 mills, the district plans to structure this bond issue so that the projected net increase in tax rate is 1 mill. Please contact the Worthington School District treasurer's office at 614-450-6171 for more information.

Find your official appraised value for tax purposes on the Franklin County auditor's website.

Voting information

Early voting starts Oct. 12. In-person absentee voting at the Franklin County Board of Elections,1700 Morse Road in Columbus, is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 28; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5; 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 6; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7. On Election Day, Nov. 8, the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

mkuhlman@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekMarla

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Facts on Worthington Schools Issues 6 and 7