NEWS

Two new Lancaster schools, no new taxes?

Jeff Barron
Reporter

LANCASTER – Imagine building two more junior high schools without asking taxpayers for more money.

“There’s a very good chance of that,” Lancaster City Schools Superintendent Steve Wigton said.

But two things must happen for the school district to build the schools without placing another bond issue or operating levy on the ballot.

First, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission must agree to pay a portion of the estimated $50 million to $55 million cost to replace General Sherman and Thomas Ewing junior high schools.

Second, voters must approve the renewal of the district’s 1.5 percent earned income tax they originally approved in November 2006 for a 10-year period.

Wigton said the latter would go for continuing operation of the school system, which would allow for several million dollars in savings to go toward the two new junior high schools.

Such a move would save money for property owners. Fairfield County Deputy Auditor Ed Laramee said in 2014 they paid $112 per $100,000 home value on a 3.2 mill school levy and $17.50 per $100,000 on a half-mill permanent improvement levy. Voters approved that levy in 2012 to build five new elementary schools, the first of which officially opened Thursday.

Wigton said the school district will present its plans for the two junior high schools next month to the OFCC.

“Then they will tell us how much they can help and what percentage they can contribute,” he said. “But I don’t know how fast that may take.”

Wigton said the district has not yet decided where the two new schools may go. The district also doesn’t have a plan to replace Lancaster High School, which would be the only active school building in the district remaining built before this year. The district also still uses the Stanberry building as an auxiliary building.

Wigton said the reason for the good news is a combination of unexpected revenues and responsible financial management. Rockmill Financial Consulting recently assessed the district’s finances. Company president David Conley said the district’s revenue grew because of unforeseen increases in state funding, additional tax revenue from new pipelines and expansion in the economy, resulting in higher tax receipts.

“It is not often a school district has the means to fund new buildings without having to increase taxes on its taxpayers,” Conley said in a statement.

jbarron@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron