2025 Ballot Overview

Due to rapid growth, our schools are overcrowded. This is a necessary step forward to support our enrollment, maintain ideal class sizes, and continue to provide the experience our students deserve and the community expects.

By acting now, we alleviate overcrowding, avoid widespread redistricting, maintain a quality student experience, and avoid rising construction costs.

Projected Utilization by Level, Elementary and High 2025-2034

The tax rate will not increase if this bond issue passes. This means that the bond issue will not cause our Olentangy residents’ property tax bills to increase.

The costs to build the two new schools in the bond issue are paid for by the issuance of securities. The bond issue, if passed, permits the district to sell up to $235M worth of securities to raise the needed funds for construction of Elementary School #18 and High School #5. After the securities are sold, the district must pay back its investors over time, approximately 30 years. The principal and interest on the securities are paid to investors using the available taxes raised by the district for the exclusive purpose of paying back the bondholders/investors. The current rate of taxation that the district has been authorized to charge through past bond issues provides enough yearly revenue to pay off both the existing debt and this proposed new bond issue, without increasing the tax rate.

The district is committed to fiscal responsibility and delivering educational excellence at an exceptional value. While this allows Olentangy to maintain its current student and staff experiences within its current financial projections, we anticipate an operational levy within the next 2-3 years - but the purpose of the next operational levy will not be to open new buildings. The anticipated new operational levy will be so that Olentangy can effectively run our very successful and rapidly growing district.  The district must plan for its staffing and operational needs far into the future. Even without new construction, we must meet the needs of both our existing students and the projected 5,000 more students within the next 7-10 years. This type of explosive growth comes with increased staffing and other operational costs regardless of whether Olentangy constructs new facilities. 

Pending voter approval, design work would begin in 2025, with construction occurring between 2026 and 2028. Completion of the elementary is targeted for 2027 and the high school in 2028.

The land for both campuses is already district-owned. Elementary 18 will be located in the northwest portion of the district on Bean-Oller Road. High School 5 will also be located in the northwest portion of the district, on Bunty Station Road.

These new buildings will address district-wide overcrowding.

If passed, the redistricting process will begin shortly after the November 4 vote. Generally, new attendance boundaries will be drawn 12-18 months prior to the new school opening. 

The total estimated cost is approximately $235 million but will come with no increase in tax rates. This means that the bond issue will not cause our Olentangy residents’ property tax bills to increase.

The district’s operating funds and bond retirement funds may not be commingled, so the district must keep adequate reserves in each fund to meet its obligations. Olentangy’s operating reserves are forecasted to be about 122 days by the end of the 2025-26 school year, or about 33% of yearly operating expenses.  

For Olentangy's bond retirement fund, the current reserves are about 56%, or a little over six months.  The district targets reserves that are about 50%, or 180 days, for both funds because our real estate tax settlements occur twice a year (or six months apart). The district must be able to meet its daily financial needs in between these semi-annual real estate tax settlements, making a 6 month or 50% carryover prudent and fiscally responsible. 

Our community is invited to attend a meet up with Olentangy Schools district leadership on the no new millage bond to build an additional elementary school and high school to accommodate the growing student population. See the Building Our Future: Community Conversations schedule and join the conversation.