The Jefferson Local Board of Education has placed a 3.5 mill emergency levy, for a period of seven years, on the ballot for November 5^th.

HOW MUCH WILL THIS EMERGENCY LEVY COST?

If your home was valued at $100,000, it would cost a homeowner $10.21 per month.

If your home was valued at $150,000, it would cost a homeowner $15.31 per month.

If your home was valued at $200,000, it would cost a homeowner $20.42 per month.

HOW MUCH REVENUE WILL IT BRING INTO THE DISTRICT?

$769,711.00 per year for a seven year period.

HOW WILL THE DISTRICT CLOSE THE REMAINING DEFICIT?

The district has begun a program of requiring new businesses in the Industrial Park to pay a 1 cent per square foot side agreement.  As well, we are working with the Village on a shared tax agreement for a five year period that will also bring in additional revenue.

WHY HAS THE DISTRICT PLACED THIS ISSUE ON THE BALLOT?

1)     The district ended the 2018-2019 school year with a deficit of approximately $850,000 due to increased costs.  It is critical that we receive new revenue to keep our existing programs and services.

     2)     The district has not received increases in State funding for the last eight years.

3)     The district has not requested a new levy for operating millage in over twenty years.

     4)     Jefferson Local Schools collect 33.66 mills in property tax, the lowest in Madison and Franklin Counties.

     5)     Federal and State mandated costs, including special education and preschool, have gone up dramatically in the last 5-7 years.

WHAT REVENUE DOES THE INDUSTRIAL PARK BRING TO THE DISTRICT?

The revenue from the industrial park in total pays for only one payroll in our annual budget.  Because all of the businesses in the park in which the schools have agreements are 100% tax abated, the district only receives about 14% of the taxes otherwise owed to the district.

WILL PASSAGE OF THIS LEVY ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO KEEP ITS EXISTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES?

YES.  Passage of this levy will allow us to maintain all of our existing programs.

ARE THERE ANY FUTURE NEEDS FOR TAX REVENUE?

YES.  The district has a long standing 9.5 mill emergency levy (35 years) that will need to be renewed in two years.

WILL NEW GROWTH IMPACT THE DISTRICT?

YES.  Our current operations and capacity would quickly need to be expanded if any large scale growth occurred.  This is something the district will closely monitor.  Added students inevitably mean added costs for the district.

HAS THE DISTRICT BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF TAX DOLLARS?

YES.  The district, collecting the lowest millage in the county, has continued to provide safe, well-kept buildings and facilities.  We have excellent staff and administration who offer a broad curriculum to meet the needs of today’s students.  We have worked hard to keep taxes in our community as low as possible while still delivering an excellent educational value for our community.

IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, WHOM MAY I CALL?

You may call 614-879-7654, ext.  1112 – Superintendent William Mullett

IS THIS A CRITICAL LEVY ISSUE?

YES.  The continued support of our community is essential to keep our programs and services for our students.