Plain Local Schools will again seek voter approval in November for a $116.8 million bond to build three new elementary schools, after voters rejected the same proposal in May. The board says the district could lose $120 million in state construction funding in
CANTON − Plain Local Schools is walking back into the voting booth.
On June 10, the Plain Local School Board initiated the process to place a 37-year, $116.8 million bond issue on the November ballot, the same proposal voters rejected last month. The board approved the action unanimously, taking the step without discussion by the board.
The resolution asks the Stark County auditor to certify the millage of the bond issue. how much it would raise. and how much it would cost each property owner. The board is expected to vote at a special meeting at 7:30 a.m. June 30 to place the issue on the Nov. 3 ballot, and the deadline to submit a tax issue to the Stark County Board of Elections is Aug. 5.
In the May 5 primary election, nearly 53% of voters cast ballots against a 3.5-mill levy that would have raised $6.11 million a year for 37 years to repay the $116.8 million borrowed, plus a significant amount of interest. The vote ended 5,635 against to 5,023 in support.
For homeowners, the price tag would have been $122.50 per year for every $100,000 in home valuation.
Superintendent Brent May said the stakes are tied directly to state funding. If voters do not approve the bond issue. the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission will cancel $120 million in state funding available to the district to cover the upfront cost of school construction in May 2027. The district would have to reimburse the commission.
“And so for us to leave that money so to speak on the table, we don’t want to do that,” May said. “The other thing is we have aging buildings.”
Plain Local plans to consolidate the district’s six elementary schools into the three new buildings. May said that, besides GlenOak High School, the district’s school buildings are an average of 71 years old. He added that by building the new schools, the district will save about $45 million in operational costs over 10 to 15 years. That savings, May said, would help the district avoid asking voters for property tax increases to fund school operations. The district’s annual operating budget is about $71 million.
Before Election Day, the district is promising more detail than it’s typically able to provide after a bond vote starts rolling. May said the district will provide voters more specifics on the plans for each of the school buildings and their properties in advance of the November election.
“We’re going to explain what we’re going to do on each of those sites. We’re going to have drawings of what the buildings may look like,” May said. “We’re going to demonstrate to the community we heard you. We’ve heard they may want to know what the buildings may look like. If we’re not using a site, what may we use that site for. So we’re going to get into those things and clarify that for our community.”.
The bond push came alongside another major decision for the district. Separately, the board approved a new three-year contract effective July 1 with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 293. The union includes all classified district employees, except bus drivers, bus aides and bus mechanics.
Under the contract. employees will receive a 2.5% salary increase the first year. a 2.25% increase the second year and a 2% increase the third year. May said the union agreed for workers—who now pay for 15% of the cost of employer-subsidized health insurance premiums—to pay 16% of the cost of health insurance premiums the first year. 16.5% the second year and 17% the third year. May said those percentages also will apply to administrators, including him.
School district officials said on June 10 they did not have available the number of union members impacted and the total cost of the raises in the contract.
For Plain Local, November isn’t just another vote. It’s a decision about whether the district can move forward on new elementary schools—or whether $120 million in state construction money disappears after May 2027.
Plain Local Schools bond issue $116.8 million elementary schools Stark County November ballot Ohio Facilities Construction Commission $120 million state funding union contract Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 293
Why do they keep asking again? Didn’t May already say no.
So it’s like $122 a year per $100k? That doesn’t sound too bad but if they lost $120 million state money then why not just use the money they already have. Feels like the district is forcing it.
“3.5-mill levy” like that’s pennies or something right? Also I read somewhere bonds always end up costing way more because of interest, so of course people voted no. 53% against seems pretty clear.
They’re trying again in November because they’re scared of losing state funding, but honestly if the state keeps changing the rules then what are we supposed to do? My property would go up like $122.50 a year, right, but what about renters and stuff? Also that 7:30 a.m. meeting is wild who even attends that.