The Columbus (Ohio) school board has voted to remove a $680 million bond proposal from the November ballot.
The bond funds would have covered the cost to build a middle school, two elementary schools and two high schools, WOSU News reports. Board members say the district's facility needs remain critical, but they concluded that the time is not right to ask voters for a tax increase.
The proposed construction projects would have been the first built as part of the district’s latest facilities plan.
- A new high school on the existing site of Marion-Franklin High School
- A new high school on the existing site of Beechcroft High School
- A new middle school on the existing site of Mifflin Middle School
- A new elementary school on the existing site of Winterset Elementary School
- A new elementary school on the existing site of Eakin Elementary School
The board also decided to delay another ballot issue that had been planned for November—an improvement levy for maintenance at existing schools. Together, the bond and levy proposals would have increased property taxes by about 13%.
Board members say they’re committed to revisiting the bond and levy requests when the timing is right.
“We will bring this back,” says board president Jennifer Adair. “We are committed to that. Because this is the solution.”
