Voters asked to renew Celina schools operating levy

CELINA - Celina City Schools District voters will be asked to renew an operating levy that superintendent Ken Schmiesing says is one of the district's crucial revenue sources.

The five-year operating levy generates $4.9 million annually and brings in roughly 15% of the district's total general fund revenue, Schmiesing noted.

The levy was introduced in 2000 and last renewed in 2015 at about 11.4 mills. Today the levy is set at 11.1 mills, costing the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 about $388.50 annually, according to the county auditor's office.

Schmiesing emphasized the ballot proposal includes no tax increases.

"We can't bring in more money than this ($4.9 million). It's a set amount of money so the number of mills continue to go down as the valuation of the property goes up," Schmiesing explained at a school board meeting this summer.

Schmiesing reiterated that this is a renewal operating levy not a building project levy. Board members in recent months had contemplated a second attempt at a building levy but ultimately abandoned the idea. With many residents in the district hurt financially by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, now is not the time to hit up voters for an additional tax, they moved.

"In all the information we've been putting out, we've definitely tried to concentrate on that and have that message that this is not a building levy. This is again a renewal levy for operating dollars," Schmiesing told the newspaper.

The current operating levy expires at the end of 2021. If renewed, it would run through 2026, he said.

"We still have the building issue out there as well, so hopefully we can get this passed and then maybe take another look at what we might do with our facilities," he said. "Our buildings are not getting any younger."

In April a combined bond issue and tax levy to build new schools fell just short of passing. The roughly $69.25 million bond issue and 0.5-mill maintenance levy for the proposed building project were presented as one issue. Voters cast 2,241 votes against and 2,065 in support of the issue.

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

Board members had originally planned to give that effort another try at the ballot box. However, at a May special meeting, they voted against seeking approval of that plan on a potential Aug. 4 special election ballot.

They vowed to revisit the issue to get a better read on the COVID-19 pandemic's status and impact on the local economy before considering another building levy attempt.

They have since decided to pursue renewal of the operating levy instead.