Renewal levy on the ballot for Coshocton City Schools

| October 26, 2012

COSHOCTON – The Coshocton City Schools District is asking for a yes vote from the public on Election Day.

“Our school levy is a renewal,” said Dr. David Hire, superintendent of Coshocton City Schools. “We are not asking for additional money or a new tax.”

The levy for the district is a five year capital improvements 1.12 mill renewal. Money generated from it is used for maintenance and upkeep projects to the schools and their grounds.

“We don’t have any specific projects for the money, we just want to make sure we have enough to deal with problems and take care of things as they arise,” Hire said. “We also have to take care of our three older buildings until we are totally out of them.”

Hire said in the past, money from the levy was used to fix the stage in the high school’s auditorium and add railing in the gym for safety.

“When you are talking buildings and grounds you want them to look good so they can be a showcase that the community is proud of,” he said.

Money from the levy cannot be used for items such as salaries, benefits, utilities, insurance or supplies.

The levy was first passed by voters in 1987 for 2.0 mill and has been renewed every five years since then. In January 2011 it was reduced to 1.12 mills. This was done to return money back to the community after it passed the 0.5 mill maintenance levy for the new elementary school.

“As we go down to two buildings we hope we will not have as great of a need, but we have to make sure we can take care of it (the new school) and have money set aside if things break or need repaired,” Hire said. “The high school also continues to age and you never know what might need replaced.”

The levy, which comes up for renewal every five years, used to generate $224,000 a year, but now will only bring in $114,776 each year. If the levy does not pass, cost for upkeep projects and repairs will have to come out of the district’s general operating fund, which will put a financial burden on it.

“I hope people realize that this is not for salaries or operating expenses,” Hire said. “We are talking bricks, mortar, roofs, asphalt and other property maintenance items we might have to take care of. These are things that if we let go could be a larger expense.”

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Category: Government

About the Author ()

I started my journalism career in 2002 with a daily newspaper chain. After various stops with them, I am happy to be back home! I graduated from Coshocton High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2002 from Walsh University. I also earned several awards while working for daily papers, including being honored by Coshocton County’s veterans for the stories I wrote about them. I am honored and ready to once again shine a positive light on Coshocton County. I also am the proud mother of a little girl named Sophia!

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