Voters in Summit, Stark, Wayne and Medina counties went to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to approve 10 school issues, including seven renewal levies and a bond issue to fund the construction of new school buildings.
Early unofficial results showed most renewal levies getting a positive nod from voters. But delays in voter counts had the Summit County Superintendent with the most sizable issue on the ballot nervously awaiting the final results.
“I will wait until all of the information is in, even though I have to get up at 5 a.m.,” said Jim Robinson, superintendent of the Manchester Local schools. “I would say my biggest emotion right now is anticipation.”
Issue 18 — a 36-year, 8.3 mill bond issue and 0.5-mill levy — would raise $30.6 million for New Franklin’s Manchester Local School District to build new elementary and high schools with the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission; to renovate the middle school; and to maintain the buildings. If the community approves the levy, the state will pay for 36 percent of the construction project, or $17 million.
It would cost Manchester Local property owners $313.90 each year per $100,000 property. A previous attempt to pass a bond issue in 2009 failed, but Robinson was cautiously optimistic that the recovering economy would motivate voters to approve the issue.
Robinson said the only building that the state approved for renovation is Manchester Middle School, at 760 W. Nimisila Road. Manchester High, located at 437 W. Nimisila Road, and Nolley Elementary, at 6285 Renninger Road, would cost the community about $32 million to repair.
In addition to the Manchester bond issue and tax levy, the Jackson Local School District asked Stark (and some Summit) County voters to approve a substitute five-year, 6.8-mill levy. The Jackson levy, Issue 12, means no new taxes for existing property owners and would only affect new construction, according to Jackson Superintendent Christopher DiLoreto. If the levy passes, it will generate nearly $8.6 million for the general fund to pay for operating expenses.
Substitute levies were established by Ohio legislators in 2008 to give school districts a way to capitalize on new real estate growth. Although existing Jackson Local property owners will see no new taxes if Issue 12 is approved, those in Summit County’s Norton City School District will, if they OK two additional levies.
Money generated from Norton’s issues 14 and 15, additional 2.9-mill and 0.4-mill levies, would be used for current operating expenses and school safety and security, respectively. The safety and security funds would be used for upgrades such as cameras in buildings and to add a school resource officer.
Issue 15 would cost taxpayers $14.04 a year per $100,000 of property for five years. Issue 14 would be a permanent annual increase of $101.52 per $100,000 property.
Here is a list of the renewal levies that appeared on the ballot:
• Brunswick City in Medina County — Issue 7, an eight-year, 3.4-mill emergency renewal levy to raise $3.2 million per year.
• Canton Local in Stark County — Issue 13, a five-year, 10.8-mill renewal levy for operating expenses and permanent improvements.
• Chippewa Local in Wayne County — a five-year, 1.9-mill renewal levy for permanent improvements.
• Green Local in Summit County — Issue 16, a five-year, 6.89-mill emergency renewal levy to raise $4.8 million annually.
• Northwest Local, which includes voters from Summit, Stark and Wayne counties — Issue 11, a 10-year, 6.1-mill emergency renewal levy.
• Springfield Local, which includes voters from Summit and Portage counties — Issue 20, a five-year, 3.68-mill emergency renewal levy to raise $1.5 million.
• Triway Local in Wayne County — a four-year, 0.75 percent income tax renewal for operating expenses.