OAKWOOD SCHOOLS TO PURSUE LEVY
Goal is to fund facilities plan; issue could appear on May ballot when board issues final approval.
The Oakwood Board OAKWOOD — of Education has approved the first step to place a tax issue on the May ballot.
The second of two required votes will be taken at the Jan. 14 meeting before the measure gets final approval.
The ballot issue would be one request with two distinct parts: a 4.99-mill operating levy and a bond issue at approximately 2.7 mills.
If approved, the measures would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $270 per year according to school officials. The levy would be $175 on its own, while the bond is $95.
“Each of these parts is critical and equally important,” Superintendent Kyle Ramey said.
The 4.99-mill operating levy is the district’s lowest request to the Oakwood community for operating dollars in more than 30 years, Ramey said.
Traci Hale, community relations director for the district, said, “Just like our last request for additional funds in 2016, this levy would generate money to cover the district’s day-to-day expenses.”
She added, “We have been good stewards of taxpayer money and will continue to develop processes and procedures to be as effective and efficient as possible, stretching our resources as far as they will go.”
In November, the school board voted to accept a Master Facilities Plan Report that includes projects that could run through 2038. The four-phase plan includes preserving current buildings with infra-