Which school issues central Ohio voters approved in May 2025 election
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Five central Ohio school districts took levies or bond issues to the ballot on Tuesday, hoping to raise funds.
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. The amount in dollars is then typically expressed as how much money someone would own per $100,000 of their home's appraisal value, which is calculated by each county auditor. Watch live election night coverage in the video player above.
HB 6 repeal, Delta-8 moving through the Ohio statehouse
Groveport Madison schools are hoping to pass a 2.33 mills bond issue that would generate $77.2 million for the district. If voters approve the issue, — which initially failed in November — the district will use the funds to build three new middle schools and expand Groveport Madison High School.
The district fears growing enrollment will expand beyond the capacity of its current facilities. The district anticipates enrollment will increase by 620 students over the next 10 years.
If passed, Issue 24 would cost taxpayers $81.55 per $100,000 of their home's value annually.
With 100% of the precincts counted, Marysville's 5.5 mills emergency levy appears to be headed for passage with 61% of the vote.
The victory is a big win for Marysville, which faced massive budget cuts and operational changes if it failed. With the $6.8 million the levy will generate, the district will be able to keep their current operations and prevent 30 teachers from being fired.
The ballot victory proved the third time is the charm for Marysville, with its two previous levies both failing. The levy will cost taxpayers $192.50 per $100,000 of their home's value each year.
How Ohio budget could impact local school funding
Jonathan Alder Local Schools — Bond issue
With all but two of the precincts counted, Jonathan Alder's 5.12 mills bond issue appears to be headed for failure in a tight vote.
The district hoped to use the $70.6 million the bond issue would have generated to renovate facilities. District officials said enrollment is increasing, and they had hoped to build a new high school and junior high.
Without the funds, the Board of Education will consider another bond issue request, although costs may increase with time. The bond issue would have cost most residents $179 per $100,000 of their home's value annually. Residents on land that qualifies for current agricultural use valuation would have owed $5.22 per acre.
With 100% of the precincts counted, Southwest Licking's 4.2 mills bond issue appears to be headed for failure with 64% of the vote.
Southwest Licking had hoped to use the $115 million bond issue to build a new middle school, athletic facility and high school expansion. Community members voiced concerns about the bond issue after the district got new buildings in 2017, but district officials said those buildings were built with the state and did not adequately consider enrollment projects.
Without the bond issue, the district will have to consider other options or another ballot issue to address capacity concerns. The athletic facility, a collaboration primarily sponsored by the YCMA, will also not be built. The bond issue would have cost taxpayers $147 per $100,000 of their home's value annually.
The 3.26 mills bond issue would help Teays Valley build two new intermediate schools. Like other districts, Teays Valley is projecting large enrollment increases and wants to use the $64.39 million the issue would generate to expand facilities and adjust their current buildings, some of which are already at capacity.
If approved, the bond issue would cost taxpayers $52.50 annually per $100,000 of their home's value. The district is already spending money to address the enrollment concerns by financing temporary classrooms, and hopes the construction would be a more efficient solution.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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