Mathews schools to ask voters to pass 9.35-mill bond issue

January 31, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

VIENNA

The $24.7 million bond issue for a kindergarten through 12th grade building in the Mathews Local School District will be financed by an additional 9.35 mills of real-estate tax, if approved by voters in the May 6 primary.

The amount of the millage was certified by the county auditor prior to the school board’s vote in a special meeting Wednesday.

According to Brian Stidham, district treasurer, average cost to the owner of a $100,000 home would be $330 annually if the issue passes.

It marks the district’s second attempt in five years to pass a bond issue for a K-12 building. In 2009, voters overwhelmingly rejected a $22 million issue and its 8.1 mill levy.

The new facility would replace the district’s three school buildings — Baker Elementary, Currie Elementary and the combined junior/senior high school. The high school will be 100 years old in 2015. Baker and Currie were built in the 1960s.

The new building would be constructed near the Baker site.

“We have to keep going, because the situation with our buildings is not improving,” said Ken Wallace, president, after the school board’s unanimous vote.

Of the 9.35 mills, 8.85 mills cover the cost of the bond issue, which would be paid off in 37 years, according to the board’s resolution. The remaining 0.5 mills are required by the Ohio School Facilities Commission to cover the cost of permanent improvements.

Superintendent Lewis Lowery said a report early last year by the OSFC verifies language in the resolution that the district “is unable to provide adequate classroom facilities without assistance.”

“They did an exceptional- needs study and found that our buildings were the second-worst in the entire state,” Lowery said.

The OSFC’s share of the nearly $30 million project is only $5.6 million, around 19 percent. Lowery said the state’s share has been steadily declining for school building projects.

“In 2009 for the last bond issue, the local share was 78 percent, meaning the state picked up 22 percent,” the superintendent said. “Now our local share has to be 81 percent of the cost.”

Mathews’ total tax valuation is more than $147.8 million, but the OSFC considers it a wealthy school district, a designation that played a role in determining the state’s relatively small share.

“They base it on per-capita income,” said board member Tarin Brown, shaking his head.

Lowery said the board and levy committees will begin having public meetings in February to try to build voter support.

“We encourage anyone with questions to come and ask them,” Lowery said. “We want people to come and see why we need to do this.”