Voters to decide Xenia schools bond issue

Single building would replace middle school, high school.

Voters in the Xenia school district will decide on a bond issue for new construction in today’s special election.

The village of Camden in Preble County also has two issues before voters.

There are only 11 issues on the ballot statewide.

Here’s a look at what local voters will decide today:

Xenia Schools: District leaders hope the third time is the charm for a bond issue for construction. The bond issue on the ballot is the same 4.2-mill, 37-year measure that voters rejected by a 7 percentage point margin in May. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $147 per year.

The proposal calls for replacing the 1962 Warner Middle School and 1976 Xenia High School with a single building to be constructed at U.S. 42 and Ledbetter Road. The state-required evaluation of the two existing buildings called them both “borderline,” the middle rating out of three.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission would pay for 40 percent of the project if Xenia voters agree to raise the rest via this bond issue. The current OFCC funding cycle expires after the August election. OFCC officials said Xenia could still qualify for state funding after that time if they passed a levy, but the funding percentage could shift.

Camden: The village has a 6-mill renewal police levy and a 4-mill renewal levy for general operating expenses.

Clark-Shawnee Schools:

For the third time in less than a year, Clark-Shawnee Local Schools voters will go to the polls to decide if they

will pay more taxes for new schools.

Voters will decide on a $37 million bond issue to build a new elementary school across the street from Shawnee High School and renovate the high school. The bond issue is for 5.3 mills for 37 years and will cost the owner of a $100,000

house a little more than $15 a month.

If voters pass the bond issue, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission will pay $15 million of the project’s total cost. However, if

voters deny the bond, the money will no longer be guar

anteed to the district and it will be put on a wait list.

Polls will be open on Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.