The levy would generate $1,042,873 a year and cost a taxpayer $97.30 per $100,000 in appraised property value. The estimated cost of the new transportation facility is $1.5 million, plus $1.75 million for the elementary school work, and $400,000 for the multipurpose room, and other improvement projects around the district.
The board took the first steps to pass a resolution to put the levy on the May ballot this week, and plan to proceed with the resolution to officially put it on the ballot at the next board meeting held at 6 p.m. Jan. 23, at Enon Primary, Room 23, 120 S. Xenia St.
“To help pass the levy, the board plans to incorporate additional projects based on community feedback, including finishing the ‘white space’ in the K-6 Greenon Elementary building and updating the current weight room,” Knapke said. “The board will continue to emphasize transparency during board meetings and maintain open communication to address community questions.”
The “white space” is currently an unfinished space in the elementary building that the district incorporated as a “forward-thinking measure by the design committee,” Knapke said.
“At the time of building, local funds were used to enclose this space during construction, allowing it to be completed later if necessary. Our growing student population has led us to repurpose lab classrooms as regular classrooms. Finishing the white space will allow us to restore the labs to their original functions while providing students with standard classrooms that better support their educational needs,” he said.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
Greenon previously asked voters to approve an additional five-year, 1.99-mill tax levy that would have funded the construction of a new transportation garage and multipurpose room at the current Greenon athletic facility. The levy would have generated $747,000 annually and cost a taxpayer about $70 a year per $100,000 in appraised property value.
Residents rejected the additional levy, with 64% voting no and 36% voting yes.
The estimated $2.1 million garage would have been used for the maintenance, operations and transportation departments. The $400,000 multipurpose room at the athletic facility would have served multiple sports teams and community organizations, plus providing space for activities and events.
Knapke said district leaders are optimistic about the levy passing in May.
“By incorporating additional projects that address community feedback, we hope the community will recognize the value of investing in improved facilities for our district students,” he said.
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