What should I know about my local school levy?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Public school districts across central Ohio are asking for funding through school levy and bond issues.

Districts across the state are asking for additional funding, with some requesting upward of $100 million. Many levies and bonds will express cost in millage, the rate property is taxed in Ohio, rather than a dollar value. A mill is defined as one-tenth of a cent, and millage is the factor applied to a property's assessed value to calculate tax revenue.

Property taxes look at a home's appraisal value, which is calculated by each county auditor. Costs to taxpayers are typically presented as how much money they would owe per $100,000 of their appraisal value. If a district's request would cost $50 per $100,000 property value, a home appraised at $300,000 would owe $150 in taxes annually.

Bexley City School District -- Issue 36

Bexley City Schools are asking for a five-year incremental levy totaling 15 mills to fund its daily operational expenses. The levy asks for 5 mills in its first year, adding 2.5 mills each year through 2029. In dollars, taxpayers will be asked to pay $175 per $100,000 of their home's appraisal value in 2025 and an additional $88 per $100,000 each of the next for years. By 2029, taxpayers would pay $527 per $100,000 under Issue 36.

Some community members have voiced concerns at the cost of the levy, especially as the district has signaled another levy to fund facility renovations and expansions could be requested as early as next year. If the levy does not pass, the district warned it may have to cut between 30 and 60 staff positions and will have to make significant adjustments. Read further coverage of the Bexley levy here.

Buckeye Valley Local School District

Buckeye Valley is requesting a 4.46 mills bond levy to fund construction of a new high school and address growing enrollment needs. The district said the issue would cost taxpayers $156 per $100,000 of their home's appraisal value annually once it is phased in fully. To save residents money, its first year would cost less as the district would only ask for 2 mills, with the rest added on in year two.

Some opponents of the bond levy said on social media they found the district's data misleading, and felt Buckeye Valley schools could not need $100 million in taxpayer dollars. According to the district, the $100 million generated from the bond levy would fund a new high school, complete with arts and athletics spaces. The current high school would become a junior high for grades seven and eight, and the current middle school would serve grades five and six as an intermediate building.

Grandview Heights City School District -- Issue 37

Grandview Heights City Schools is asking voters to approve a nearly $70 million bond levy to build a new elementary school and improve the district's athletic complex. According to the Board of Education, the levy would cost $243 per $100,000 of taxpayers' home appraisal value. More than $50 million of the levy would go to the new elementary school replacing Stevenson Elementary, which was built in 1926.

Grandview Heights treasurer Beth Collier previously told NBC4 many voters wonder where the money from Grandview Yard goes, but she explained those funds generate around 20% of the district's annual operating budget and cannot be used for the facility project. Read further coverage of the Grandview Heights levy here.

Groveport Madison Local School District -- Issue 38

Groveport Madison Schools has a 2.44 mills bond issue on the ballot, which the district said is to build three new middle schools to address student safety and growing enrollment. The district said two of its three middle schools have an open classroom concept, with virtually no permanent walls or doors. On top of being a safety concern, the district said it is a loud and disruptive environment the $78.3 million in bonds its seeking would address.

If passed, the bond issue would cost taxpayers $84.24 per $100,000 of their home's appraisal value. The district said it's heard many questions about last year's levy, which renewed a pre-existing levy and kept the portion of taxes given to the district the same. The district said the bond issue generates funds for building, not general school maintenance. Read further coverage of Issue 38 here.

Hilliard City Schools District -- Issue 39

Hilliard schools are seeking a 6.9 mills operating levy and combined 1.84 mills bond issue to build three new elementary schools, costing taxpayers $242 per $100,000 in home appraisal value. The district said the levy is needed for operational costs and to fund renovations, while the bond issue would fund construction. If the levy fails, Hilliard schools said it would need to cut nearly 100 staff positions and increase pay-to-play fees drastically, with middle school fees increasing from $80 and $300, and high school fees changing from $100 to $600.

Some taxpayers said they feel funding issues should come from cutting school expenses, not residents' taxes. These community members told NBC4 they felt the district is paying too much for its employees, which they alleged were hired with one-time COVID-19 funds and are not necessary. However, the district argues the funds are crucial to continue to operate their schools. Read additional coverage of the Hilliard levy here.

Madison-Plains Local School District

Madison-Plains schools are seeking a combined $35 million bond issue and $233,000 levy to build a new school for grades K-8. The 4.3 mills request would cost taxpayers $151 per $100,000 of their home's appraisal value. It would allow the district to build a new school with help from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, which would fund 15% of the total project costs. The Board of Education would also commit $11 million in district funds if the issue passes.

Opponents of the request said online they are concerned that the district has not presented clear building plans or met with a contractor. Those voting no have also said the duration of the tax -- 37 years -- is too long for them to vote in favor. However, those in favor argue the new building is necessary to replace its current accommodations for kindergarten through eighth grade, as fourth through sixth graders are currently housed in an "intermediate structure," with all other grades below high school learning in trailers.

Marysville Exempted Village School District

Marysville schools have a 5.5 mills emergency operating levy on the ballot, and the district said its depleting cash reserve and increased expenses have led to its first operating levy request in 16 years. If passed, it would generate $6,443,102 annually for 10 years, costing taxpayers $192.50 per $100,000 of their home's appraisal value each year. The district said this money would prevent budget cuts and could bring back extracurricular supplements and transportation, as well as class size caps.

If the levy fails, the district said it would increase pay-to-participate fees to $770 with no family cap and cut 30 staff positions. To emphasize the possible staff reductions, the district has posted spotlights on teachers who could be let go in a "faces behind the levy" series. Further, there would be a hiring freeze and immediate elimination of the school resource officer program. These cuts are on top of several the district has already made, including 30 staff positions reduced already in 2023. Read additional coverage of the levy here.

New Albany-Plain Local School District -- Issue 40

New Albany schools are asking for a $135 million bond issue, but the district said some taxpayers may save money thanks to another tax collection expiring this year. According to the district, it's asking taxpayers to pay 1.45 mills of an expiring 1.95 mills issue, resulting in a possible tax decrease for community members who have been paying taxes through the Community Authority. For taxpayers who have not paid the expiring fund, it would cost $50.75 per $100,000 of their home's value.

The district said it would use the funds to accommodate for the predicted 1,000 student enrollment increase over the next 10 years. With the money, New Albany-Plain schools would build a new elementary school, renovate an existing high school building and middle school stadium, build new science labs and a fine arts hub, expand common areas and build a larger transportation facility. Read previous coverage about the levy here.

Reynoldsburg City School District -- Issue 41

Reynoldsburg schools are asking for a 6.65 mills emergency operating levy to address its deficit spending. The levy would bring in $8.5 million annually for the district for five years, costing taxpayers $233 per $100,000 of their appraised property value annually. The district said the levy is needed to pay teachers, maintain building upkeep, support extracurriculars and continue the district's current services.

Some residents on social media have voiced concerns about administrative spending, including salaries for both Reynoldsburg's current superintendent and a previous superintendent, who the district said is a consultant. However, Reynoldsburg schools said if the levy fails, the district will be forced to make budget cuts, likely limiting staff salaries and benefits, and extracurricular funding. The district has also pointed to a failed levy in 2009, after which the district cut elementary art, music and gym, as well as transportation services. Read additional coverage of Issue 41 here.

Westerville City School District -- Issue 44

Westerville schools' Issue 44 is a combined 1.66 mills bond issue and 4.9 mills operating levy. The district said the operating levy would allow Westerville to continue its current services, while the bond funds would pay for renovations and additions at four schools, as well as infrastructure and extracurricular space improvements. Issue 44 -- which will not be labeled with a number on Delaware County voters' ballots, per county practice -- would cost taxpayers $172 per $100,000 of their home's appraisal value each year, with the bond issue expiring in 37 years and the levy continuing indefinitely.

Residents against the issue said the district should spend its money more wisely, rather than ask residents for funding. Others have voiced frustrations online about the district rescinding its religious release program, alleging they do not want to fund the school after the decision. However, the district said it would have to address a $20.8 million revenue shortage if the issue does not pass to continue its current operations. Read further coverage of the levy here.