Grove officials say levy investment worth it

COLUMBUS GROVE — It’s been almost a year and a half since Columbus Grove schools first went to voters for a new school building. Three failed attempts later, and officials say the need continues to grow.“Without this levy, we have certain problems that are just not going to go away,” Superintendent Bob Jennell said.Voters will be asked to support a 28-year, 6.38 mill property tax and a 23-year, 0.25-percent income tax. The property tax will raise $8 million and the income tax $200,000. The district will also seek a mandatory 0.5 mill permanent-improvement maintenance levy.Some things have changed since the previous attempts, including the state now paying 76 percent of the project, up from 68 percent. The district will also put $1 million from the general fund toward the project.The district is asking for less money. It asked for $9.8 million last time. Jennell said by law the board has to ask for the total cost of the district’s share, $8 million, through a property tax. It would later be reduced by the income tax.When considering the costs of fixing current problems and maintaining the nearly 100-year-old building, Jennell said, it makes more fiscal sense to take the state’s money and build new.“This is an opportunity to take care of all of our problems at a reduced cost,” he said.There is also a new board, which made the decision to build on 35 acres of land adjacent to the athletic field. Some have suggested that the district build on the current site. The cost of the project is $29.66 million.Officials have held numerous community meetings and have been hitting the pavement trying to drum up support. Along with stressing the minimal investment the district is having to make for a new building, officials hope to also stress the educational benefits of a new building.“Our students need to enter into a new type of world,” Jennell said. “It’s up to the school to get kids prepared for that type of world. ... A new school will give us that opportunity to update our facilities to better prepare our students.”The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $211 a year. Someone making $50,000 a year would pay $125 on the income tax.