4 issues OK’d, 4 denied in Fairfield, Licking counties

Leaders of the four school districts in Fairfield and Licking counties whose tax issues were rejected Tuesday will decide whether to ask voters again in November. Issues in four other districts were approved.

The Southwest Licking, Northridge, Licking Heights and AmandaClearcreek districts all had been on the ballot last November.

Sixty-four percent of Pickerington voters rejected a permanent 3-mill property tax that officials of the 10,200-student district sought for permanent improvements, including artificial-turf athletic stadiums. Officials wanted to raise $3.4 million annually, costing homeowners an additional $105 per $100,000 in valuation.

“Although voters did not vote in support of this particular levy, I still firmly believe that Pickerington is highly supportive of our schools, our teachers and our students,” said Superintendent Valerie Browning-Thompson, adding that the district will continue using the general operating budget for capital improvements rather than the separate funding she hoped to establish with the levy.

Fifty-five percent of voters in the 1,500-student Amanda-Clearcreek district rejected a 10-year renewal of a 1.5 percent earned-income tax to raise $2.4 million annually for operations. The school board will have to decide whether to ask again in November, Treasurer Jill Bradford said.

Sixty-seven percent of voters in the 1,425-student Liberty Union-Thurston district rejected a fiveyear, 3.5-mill levy to raise $648,000 annually for permanent improvements, including replacing grass with artificial turf at the stadium and rebuilding the worn track. The issue would have cost homeowners an additional $123 per $100,000 in valuation. Superintendent Todd Osborn said the school board will decide whether to return to the ballot in November.

Voters in the Licking Heights district approved a 4.99-mill bond issue to raise $50.6 million for a new high school and facility renovations. The issue will be repaid over 37 years, costing homeowners an additional $175 per $100,000 in valuation. Sixty percent of district voters in Licking County rejected the issue, while 76 percent of district voters in Franklin County approved the issue, according to final, unofficial results.

The Southwest Licking district approved a 6.7-mill bond issue to raise $78.4 million for school construction and renovations. The issue will be repaid over 37 years, costing homeowners an additional $235 per $100,000 in valuation.

“(We’re) making sure that we’re able to provide the learning environment that we said we would,” said Southwest Licking district spokesman Ben Richards. “We’ve always known that we’ve had a special community.”

The Northridge district rejected in one package a 0.75 percent earnedincome tax to raise about $1.5 million annually for permanent improvements and a 2.9-mill bond issue to raise $14.7 million for school construction and renovation. The issue was to be repaid over 30 years, costing homeowners an additional $102 per $100,000 in valuation.

Voters in the North Fork district renewed a threeyear, 1 percent income tax to raise about $2.1 million for operations.

The Heath district renewed a 10-year, 7.7-mill levy to raise $1.9 million annually for operations.