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Voters make their way into Market Hall at the Mercer County Fairgrounds to cast their vote.
CELINA - Voters in Celina City Schools district passed an emergency renewal levy and gave two incumbents each another four-year term on the school board on Election Day.
The five-year, 7.3-mill emergency renewal levy garnered 2,426 affirmative votes or 55.12% of the total, according to the unofficial results posted by Mercer County Board of Elections. There were 1,975 votes against the levy.
The levy generates $4.9 million or about 14% of the district's annual operating budget.
Superintendent Brooke Gessler in a statement thanked the community for their support, saying she's grateful they understand the importance of a strong school system.
"Together, we will keep providing opportunities for our students for the promise of a stronger future and Building Excellence Together," she said.
Gessler also highlighted the important roles the school board and levy committee played in getting the levy passed.
"Each individual spent a lot of time and effort to pass this levy and educate our community," she said. "I would also like to thank our levy committee. This group of individuals orchestrated a well-engineered plan, and the results are proof of this. It was a privilege to learn from you."
Board member Carl Huber also expressed his gratitude to the community.
"This goes to show we are on the right track of building a better district for our future Bulldogs," he insisted.
The levy will commence in 2026 and first be due in 2027, costing the owner of a $100,000 home $256 annually.
The emergency levy was first approved by voters in 2011, and has been renewed every five years since. Operating funds derived from the levy can be spent on staff salaries and benefits, curriculum and supplies, maintenance, utilities and insurance.
"An emergency levy is a local property tax that generates a fixed dollar amount for a school district each year for a set number of years," a levy fact sheet issued by the school district states. "This type of levy provides a predictable amount of revenue, which creates stability in a district's budget."
An emergency levy may be proposed to avoid an operating deficit.
School board race
Incumbent board members Carl Huber and Mark Huelsman emerged as the top two vote-getters from a crowded pack on Election Day, fending off challengers John Gabriel, Theresa Howick and Andrea Kuehne.
Huber, a 1998 Celina High School graduate, has served on the school board since 2018, during which time he has held the positions of board president and board vice president.
He believes his work experiences in construction and public services have given him valuable insights on the ongoing building project.
The school has made great strides in the past eight years and he wants to keep the momentum going.
"Thank you all for believing in what Celina Schools is developing and continuing to allow me to be a part of it," he said.
Huelsman, a 1978 Celina High School graduate, joined the school board about four years ago out of a desire to contribute.
Recently retired after having worked 31 years with Crown Equipment Corp., four years with Nidec Minster and six years with the U.S. Air Force, Huelsman said he just wanted to help the district, knowing of its plan to construct new school buildings.
He thanked school district voters for supporting his candidacy and the emergency renewal levy.
"We have a lot of great things happening in our schools," Huelsman said. "There is unfinished business and challenges ahead. Our board is committed to being fiscally responsible and doing what is right for our students and our community."
