Celina school levy, bond issue fails

CELINA- Celina City Schools District's combined bond issue and tax levy to build new schools fell just short of passing on Tuesday.

The roughly $69.25 million bond issue and 0.5-mill maintenance levy for the proposed building project were presented as one issue. Mercer County electors cast 2,241 votes against and 2,065 in support of the issue, according to the board of elections unofficial summary results.

Superintendent Ken Schmiesing believes the economic uncertainty triggered by the coronavirus pandemic may have played a role in issue's narrow defeat.

"With the tough economic times that the whole country is going through, it makes it tough for anyone to think of looking at supporting more taxes at this time," he said.

However, school officials appreciate the more than 2,000 votes cast in favor of the issue, he said.

"Many, many thanks to the levy committee, all those volunteers that came out in support with the door-to-door campaign, all the testimonials and support of the school system and this levy," Schmiesing said. "It's just tough that we had that economic downturn, the situation that it is, but we will live with that and look to move forward, try to take as many positives out of this as we can."

Schmiesing said he plans to reconvene the levy committee and host a community meeting to help determine which steps district officials should take next.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission had committed to pay $34.9 million of the estimated $79.3 million cost, with the remaining costs covered by the local bond issue.

Schmiesing said he doesn't know if that state financing would remain available, since state coffers are likely to take a substantial hit from the effects of the pandemic.

"If the budget from the state is going to be impacted, I'm not sure if that's going to be something that we'll be able to see past this point," he said.

It's possible district officials will put together a proposal for the Nov. 3 general election.

"So that's another piece of that puzzle looking forward and how we move forward here with this. That will be a conversation with the board," he said.

Schmiesing underscored the need to remain positive.

"Lots of wonderful people in this community and that's why we all love to live here and have our kids go to school here in Celina," he said.

The 7.4-mill bond issue would have funded construction of a 182,122-square-foot middle/high school and renovation of the intermediate school to house preschool through sixth grade. The 0.5-mill property tax levy would have covered future maintenance costs for the buildings.

The plan had included demolishing the high, middle, elementary and primary schools (East and West schools) and the education complex (fieldhouse).