For voters in the Anthony Wayne Local School District, what was supposed to be a straightforward levy request to pay for schools has turned into anything but.
Kerri Johnson, treasurer, said she filed the operational levy asking for an additional five-year, 2.42-mill levy for current expenses on July 8. The levy was expected to generate $3.3 million each year to pay for day-to-day expenses.
Then, the Lucas County auditor released the 2024 revaluations for all properties in the county in September. Values increased an average of 29.5 percent.
“Because of the auditor’s results, our district will fall below the 20-mill minimum floor,” Ms. Johnson said. “Because of that, everyone’s taxes will increase whether the levy passes or fails.”
According to Ms. Johnson, the 20-mill floor was set in Ohio’s constitution in 1976. The state’s constitution requires a minimum of 20 mills be collected to fund school districts, and the new property values are projected to drop the district below this minimum.
Voters in the district rejected both a bond issue and operational levy in November. An operational levy also failed in March.
Because the district has not been able to pass a levy, the amount collected takes the district below the 20-mill floor. H.B. 920 freezes all voted millage at the dollar amount collected the first year it went into effect. As property values rise through reappraisals, the voted millage is reduced.
“As property values increase yearly, our millage is reduced because of H.B. 920,” Ms. Johnson said. “We are expected to be below the 20-mill floor by 3.017362 mills. Stakeholders in the district will have to make up those mills to get the district back up to 20 mills.”
If the levy passes, the cost will be spread across Class 1 and Class 2 property owners. According to Ms. Johnson, Class 1 properties are residential and agricultural properties. Class 2 properties are commercial, industrial and utility properties.
The remaining 0.6 mills needed to bring the district to the 20-mill floor will be assessed on Class 1 properties only. That portion will also be permanent, according to information on the district’s website..
If the levy fails, the district’s effective millage rate will drop to an estimated 16.982638 mills. The state will assess the remaining estimated 3.017362 mills required to get back to the 20-mill minimum on Class 1 property owners only. This would also be a permanent increase.
“It is not good to be on the ballot during a reappraisal year, especially with values increasing,” Ms. Johnson said. “In this case, voters in the Anthony Wayne district will see their taxes go up no matter what.”
Even more perplexing is the fact that since the auditor will not certify the appraisals until December, the district is not able to get a firm confirmation on how much the levy will cost homeowners.
“We are waiting to get some answers from the auditor before we can even begin to give an estimation on what the costs of the levy will be,” she said. “That information will be passed on to the voters as soon as I have it.”
Kevin Herman, the interim superintendent, emphasized that the passage of the levy would demonstrate that the community supports and is proud of the education and opportunities offered to the students. He said the district has worked hard to provide a well-rounded education in a safe environment, but it has not received additional operational funding to do this since 2013.
“It will reflect both support and pride for our district,” Mr. Herman said. “It also signifies appreciation for the dedicated staff members who work to do the best for all students each and every day. This district is the heart of our community, and the levy’s approval would reinforce that support.”
He highlighted the district’s and students' achievements both inside and outside the classroom, noting the district's impressive achievement on the 2024 Ohio School Report Card, which placed it in the top 5 percent of all the school districts in Ohio.
“With continued community support, we will keep delivering the quality education that prepares our students for the future,” Mr. Herman added. “We have been fiscally responsible and will continue to be good stewards of our resources.”
For more information on the levy and property reappraisal, go to anthonywayneschools.org/Reappraisal.
First Published October 14, 2024, 7:07 p.m.
