Levy Information
Our Message of Gratitude
On October 26, Olentangy Schools Board of Education voted to move forward with placing a levy on the March 19, 2024 ballot. The combined 4.25-mill levy was the district’s lowest operational ask of the community in 30 years, and we are all naturally disappointed the ballot issue did not receive enough voter support.
There are many questions on how this decision impacts current attendance boundaries, the construction and opening of new schools, and the timing of a future levy and bond ask to our Delaware County community. We do not have all those answers yet. We will take a closer look at resource alignment and our priorities as we work to meet the needs of an ever-growing student population.
For community members that wish to educate themselves about school finance and the anticipated enrollment growth in Olentangy Schools, we will leave this page active.
KNOW THE FACTS: VIDEOS
March 2024 Bond and Levy Issue
Growth in Our One Olentangy Community
Treasurer Q&A Playlist: Videos 1-8
KNOW THE FACTS: FACT SHEETS
March 2024 Ballot Issue Fact Sheet
Growth in Our Community Fact Sheet
Resource Stewardship Fact Sheet
Community Conversation Presentation
March 2024 Ballot Issue
- Why are we seeking additional financial support?
- How much are we seeking?
- Why did the district list the bond, permanent improvement levy and operating levy on the ballot as one issue?
- How did the district come up with 4.25 mills?
- Why does the Delaware County Auditor’s webpage have a different estimate for the cost of the levy for a homeowner than what the District is publishing?
- If voters approve the March levy and bond, does the district project a need for future bonds, permanent improvement levies, or operating levies?
- If this levy fails, is there another levy that might be less than the 4.25 mills in the future?
- What is our current enrollment?
- What percentage of households in the Olentangy Schools boundaries have school age children?
- Do the multi-family complexes drive up Olentangy’s student enrollment?
- When will the growth stop?
- What can the school district do to slow development?
- Can the developers pay or contribute more to the building of new schools?
- Would the school district consider a policy banning Residential Tax Increment Financing (TIF)? Can there be a moratorium on TIF for road projects in townships that should likely be levies of their own?
- If new houses are continuing to be built, what is the revenue Olentangy receives from new builds and why does the district continue to ask residents to pass levies for growth?
- Can we build larger schools to hold more students?
- Why don't we just split the school district since it is getting so big?
- How much will the levies collect, and how much will it cost taxpayers?
- Can there be a way to help seniors deal with this tax increase? Can those over 65/70 have a reduced tax burden?
- Do renters in the district pay their share of property taxes to the school district?
- Didn’t the District get additional funding from the State of Ohio recently?
- More than 72% of the District’s funding comes from property taxes. How much funding does Olentangy Schools receive from the state, and has the district advocated for more funding?
- Home values just increased in Delaware County. Will the District receive more funding since home values have increased by around 35%?
- Did Olentangy Schools get a large windfall of money from the legalization of Ohio’s sports gambling? Does Olentangy get additional funding from gaming in Ohio, including the Ohio Lottery or casinos?
- If the levy and bond issue do not pass, would the state provide additional funding for the District?
- How will the operating funds be used?
- How will the bond and permanent improvement funds be used?
- What types of existing facility improvements can we expect?
- What updates are planned for Shanahan Middle School?
- How did the District spend pandemic emergency relief funds?
- What is the timeline for the new buildings?
- How long does it take to build new elementary, middle, and high schools?
- Where will the new schools be built?
- I don’t want my child to be redistricted. If this ballot passes, does that mean more redistrictings?
- Has the district already projected which schools and communities will be impacted by future redistrictings?
- Will the District host a forum for community members to learn more about the ballot issue?