This November, voters are being asked to approve a bond levy financing a new high school. The Board of Education has provided minimal information as to how this levy will affect you financially. Many voters were not aware this levy was going to appear on the November ballot. The Sentinel-Tribune headline on October 22, 2022 stated “The Community Wants A New High School.” The article states that the decision for a new school was made by an 80 member Facility Advisory Committee. Has this committee considered the financial burden this will place on individuals? Last spring, voters were asked to renew an operating levy. Now, voters are being asked to approve a levy that would add additional taxes to their real estate tax and the school district income tax. We are still paying on a bond issue for the past construction of the middle school until 2034! how much will this cost you? You can locate your cost on the Wood County Auditor’s Website. This levy is a 30 year bond at 3.95mills on property plus an additional 0.5% taxed on your income which generates $70 million!
The Voters cannot give the Board a “blank check”. The Board has been less than transparent with the “School Checkbook”. How much money is actually in the school checkbook? The current financial status has been a mystery as the numbers are not being provided to the state. Are you aware the Board approved in April 2021 that $750,000 of pipeline money would be spent on stadium Astroturf that would only last a maximum of 15 years? If the teaching and learning facilities are less than adequate, then why was this money directed towards Astroturf in which not every student would benefit from?
The reality is, people are struggling financially, living from paycheck to paycheck. inflation is at an all time 40 year high. Food, heating, and gas prices are continuing to rise. Families are months behind on their utility bills and are living off of credit cards to survive. Why did the Board wait until interest rates are at a historic high to run this levy? Consider how this levy will financially impact your family. I ask you to “VOTE NO” on a new high school on November 8Th.
Nina Ogden
Bowling Green
