WILLOW WOOD – Symmes Valley Local School District officials will seek a 1/2 mill maintenance levy in November to begin state-approved building renovations.

Friday, August 18, 2000

WILLOW WOOD – Symmes Valley Local School District officials will seek a 1/2 mill maintenance levy in November to begin state-approved building renovations.

If voters approve, the district will receive more than $3.7 million from the state.

Superintendent Tom Ben outlined levy plans for school board members at a Thursday meeting.

The district currently has 6.1 mills levied, with a 1/2 mill of that for maintenance. The millage will mature in 2013.

A new 1/2 mill maintenance levy passed Nov. 7 would become an extension of the previous maintenance levy beginning in 2014 and extending to 2023, Ben said.

Maintenance levies are mandated by the state on all building projects, he said.

Local funding matches also are required but Symmes Valley will only have to match the state’s million-dollar funding with $83,000, which can come from its own budget, Ben said.

County districts currently building new schools under similar state cash plans have had to seek bond levies for that local match, but Symmes Valley must only match 2 percent.

So, Symmes Valley only needs a maintenance levy on the ballot, Ben said.

Board members approved the ballot language Thursday.

"A 1/2 mill is not much for what we’re going to get in return," Ben said.

Board member Timmy Hayes called the maintenance levy the state’s insurance policy.

If something happens in the district, their million-dollar investment in renovating schools will be protected by levy funds, Hayes said.

Although board members had hoped the state would allow the district to maintain renovations through a measure other than a levy, such as budgeting yearly maintenance money on its own, construction plans will be a positive for the district, they said.

High school classrooms are cramped as it is and the renovations will construct eight new classrooms, plus add a new library and other facilities, board president Jeff Floyd said.

Plus, changes to things like lighting will pay for the board’s $83,000 match, Floyd said.

"Two to three sources checked on energy savings of just new lighting and more energy efficient systems will pay us back," he said.

A letter from the State Controlling Board earlier this year confirmed the district was approved for the building assistance funding. Afterward, the district began working with the Ohio School Facilities Commission and architects Mark Tanner and Associates.

The OSFC approved the addition of more than 16,000 square feet to the high school and an update to conditions at the multi-level.