Maria Stein to vote on combo tax

MARIA STEIN - Voters in the Marion Local School District will decide on a combination 5.3-mill property tax and 0.5% earned income tax to finance the construction of a new $23.3 million school building.

The levy would fund the construction of a new building housing nine junior high and special education classrooms, an agriculture education suite with two classrooms and a greenhouse, a two-court high school gymnasium capable of seating 2,000, kindergarten-eighth-grade cafeteria/commons area, four locker rooms (two of which could serve football programs and indoor sport teams) and administrative offices.

The 63,580-square-foot facility would be built south of the elementary school.

The income tax portion of the ballot issue would generate $570,000 annually for 30 years beginning Jan. 1, according to the ballot issue. School officials report a family with household income of $100,000 would pay an additional $500 in income taxes.

It was noted that the additional income tax would not be assessed on unearned income, such as pensions, Social Security, IRA or 401(k) distributions and interest.

The 5.3-mill property tax increase would generate $12,315,000 to repay bonds over a maximum 30-year period. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay an additional $186 in property taxes.

In addition to the funds generated by the income tax and property tax on the ballot, the school board has set aside nearly $2 million in general fund monies over the last few years in the capital improvements fund to help finance the building project.

A task force made up of about 40 community members conducted a series of meetings to investigate a possible building project to alleviate space limitations due to growing enrollment and upgrade facilities.

District residents were briefed on the proposed project in March during a community meeting, which was attended by an estimated 500 to 600 people. The building is being designed by Garmann Miller architects/engineers of Minster.

The first funding option considered was a combination a 0.25% earned income tax levy and a 7.42-mill bond issue. After receiving feedback from residents following the community meeting, the task force recommended the income tax portion of the ballot issue be increased to 0.5% and the property tax be lowered to 5.3 mills. The board of education approved the revised funding method.

School officials have stated that no funds are available from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for the proposed building project. The district received OFCC funds for a project in 2002.

If the levy is passed and the new building is constructed, school officials have said it would free up space in the elementary building currently used for administrative offices, kitchen and cafeteria which could be converted to classrooms.

Voters turned down an 8.5-mill bond issue in November 2018. That $16 million project, which did not include classrooms, involved the construction of an auditorium, three-court gymnasium, ag and industrial education complex, new locker rooms, weight room and a community room.