Wednesday, July 07, 1999
Talawanda readies funding plan
Bond issue, income tax to be on ballot
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
OXFORD — Voters in the Talawanda Schools will be asked to approve a single ballot issue in November that would pay for a new high school, and provide money for day-to-day operations.
The board last week took the first of two steps by passing resolutions asking county and state auditors to certify millage needed to raise $34 million for the bond issue portion, and the amount of an income tax to raise $2.7 million to fund operations.
“We think that we really can't move the quality of education forward significantly without a new facility and renovated buildings,” said board member Robert Sherman, board spokesman for the ballot question. “We were concerned if we put separate issues on the ballot we might have money to build, but not enough to open the building, or if we did open we might be limping along not able to fully utilize it.”
Talawanda Treasurer James Rowan estimated it would take a 6-mill bond issue and 0.75 percent income tax to raise the necessary funds. Once the auditors certify the amounts, the board will adopt a second resolution putting the issue on the Nov. 2 ballot, said Don Barnhart, vice president of the Talawanda Board of Ed ucation. That vote will come at the board's July meeting.
“This will position us for options not available to us now,” Mr. Barnhart said of the board's unanimous decision on the ballot issue. “I think this is a major financial commitment for this district. For the past 12 years we've kept a tight line on the financial side. We need more money now.”
The income tax would pay for 43 or 44 new staff members, bring teacher salaries up to the mid-range of those in Butler County, and keep the district solvent through June 2002 or 2003.
With the funds, the board will build a high school on 157 acres on Millville-Oxford Road across from the College View Motel. Money from the bond issue portion also will be used to make renovations to other district buildings.
“This land is extremely well-situated,” Mr. Barnhart said.
Voters last approved a ballot issue in 1988.
The package has the support of an 11-member steering committee that has been meeting since April. The group last month recommended the board put a single ballot issue before voters and offered its support in working toward passage of whatever package the board put before voters.
A 6-mill bond issue, enough to pay for the $34 million in improvements, would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $184 each year.
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