This week the Westerville school board voted unanimously to place a bonds and a levy issue on the November ballot.
The district is asking to issue up to $140 million in bonds and for a 1.66 mill levy to pay bond debt.
Westerville is also asking for a second levy that would generate another $20.8 million.
Voters will be asked to approve the issues together in one vote. The money would be used to build, renovate and update school facilities, according to school board documents.
Westerville treasurer Nicole Marshall said during the board’s Monday meeting that the ask comes as the district runs out of federal pandemic aid and receives less state funding.
“In addition, we continue to see the same increases in cost that the rest of the world is seeing. As you know, we're all living in a high-inflation time. The cost of doing business is just great. And the needs of our students continue to grow,” Marshall said.
She explained that because the district has some bonds that are expiring, the accompanying levy to pay new debts should not be additional millage to what Westerville residents are already paying. The Franklin County Auditor’s Office provided the estimate of 1.66 mills, which would allow the district to pay back the bonds over the course of 37 years.
That levy should cost about $58 per year for the owner of a Westerville home appraised at $100,000, according to the district.
The additional 4.9-mill levy to collect more than $20.8 million should cost the same homeowner about $172.
Westerville school board member Nancy Nestor-Barker said Monday that she was initially concerned about the size of the ask, but ultimately decided the issue was needed.
“It’s a big ask. It’s an important ask. And I am focusing my particular vote on what it is that we actually need to do to meet the needs of the students in our school district,” Nestor-Barker said.
