Hancock voters to decide 4 school tax issues

Voters in Hancock County will decide four school tax issues on the fall ballot. Residents of Arlington and Riverdale school districts are heading to the polls, while voters in Orange and Van Buren townships are being asked to renew a levy for the Apollo Career Center, Lima. Arlington School District Arlington School District residents are being asked to approve a .5% income tax on a continuing basis and a 37-year, 9.9-mill bond issue that would generate $19.1 million for the construction of a new school building. The .5% percent income tax would be earmarked for current expenses. If approved, a district resident with an annual income of $50,000 would pay $250 per year to support district operations. The proposed new building would be constructed on 35 acres owned by the school district, directly west of the current baseball field. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission will pay 41% of the $38.8 million school, or $15.9 million. The local share of the project is 59%, or $22.9 million, plus $5.2 million for "locally funded initiatives." The locally funded initiatives included utility upgrades for the 1992 gymnasium and classrooms and increased seating in the main gym. The district also plans to construct a $1 million, free-standing building for industrial arts, vocational agriculture and maintenance. The auditorium will be equipped with both fixed seating and pull-out seating. The cost also includes a $1 million contingency fund for potential cost increases. The total of the entire project is $44 million. If approved, the bond issue would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $346 each year. Riverdale School District Riverdale Schools are asking voters to approve a 1.75% income tax for three years. If approved by voters, the school board has agreed to convene an emergency meeting on Nov. 14 and rescind the district's current 1% income tax, effective Jan. 1. School officials say the additional tax is needed to meet the rising cost of operating expenses, including fuel, utilities, materials and essential programs like special education. In an effort to control expenses, the district has cut almost $1 million from its operating budget in the past four years, much of it for personnel. Riverdale Schools has not passed a new operating levy since 1994. Should the levy fail, the school board will have to consider making additional "significant cuts" to personnel and programs. The cuts will increase class sizes and mean fewer academic and extracurricular activities. Three town hall meetings have been scheduled to discuss the income tax request. A meeting will be held at The Dwelling Place, Wharton, on Oct. 18; at Mount Blanchard Village Council Chambers on Oct. 25; and at the Forest VFW on Nov. 1. All three meetings will begin at 6 p.m. Apollo Career Center The Apollo Career Center, Lima, is seeking the renewal of a .19 mill levy on the November ballot. The renewal would be for 10 years. If approved, the levy will generate about $416,000 each year. Money from the levy is used for maintenance expenses and is used to maintain the current facility, including HVAC systems, roofing, windows and other equipment. No salaries or benefits can be paid from this levy. The levy was last renewed by voters in 2013.