Marion Local voters reject bond levy

MARIA STEIN - Voters in the Marion Local School District rejected a proposed 8.5-mill bond issue that would have collected $16 million over 25 years to fund the construction of a new school facility.

A total of 2,113 voters turned out from throughout the district in Mercer, Auglaize and Darke counties, but the issue failed in all three, according to the unofficial results. In Mercer and Auglaize counties, 401 votes were cast for the bond issue, or 22.02 percent of votes, while 1,420 votes were cast against it, or 77.97 percent.

Superintendent Mike Pohlman told the paper on Tuesday night that the board of education and district administrators would take time to review the results and gain insight into the reason it failed.

"From the beginning, this process has been about addressing needs the community brought to us," he said, adding the district will continue to work hard to provide students the best possible education despite the loss.

Plans for the proposed facility that would have been funded by the bond issue called for an auditorium, a three-court gymnasium, an ag and industrial education complex, new locker rooms, a weight room and a community room. Additionally, between 38,000 and 45,000 square feet of land would have been set aside for future growth, such as adding classrooms to create a new high school around the facility.

The bond issue would've had an estimated interest rate of 4.6 percent. The estimated cost to the owner of a $100,000 home would have been $297.41 per year.