The Marysville Board of Education held first reading Thursday night on a pair of issues to appear before voters in the November general election.
A presentation from district treasurer Todd Johnson, which served as a first reading on the issue, highlighted that the issues will not increase resident tax bills if approved.
A 6.56-mill renewal operating levy will appear on the ballot as a continuing measure, meaning it would become permanent and never come before voters again.
Also before voters is a slightly more complicated issue which will allow voters to shift capital improvement money into operating funds.
Originally passed in 1989 and renewed five times since, the operating levy generates about $3.2 million per year. The levy, set to expire in December of 2019, is the only renewal levy remaining on the district books.
The levy currently collects at about 2.69 mills on homeowners because growth in the area has spread collection of the $3.2 million over more households.
The district has said the decision to place the issue on the ballot as a permanent measure comes from the standpoint that it has been passed five previous times, with each renewal attempt requiring the work of volunteers and the donation of thousands of dollars for promotion.
By law, school districts may not use public funds for levy promotion.
Johnson also noted that if the levy were to continue on as a renewal, it would come back before voters in five years in a time frame where a levy for additional operating expenses is being projected.
The second measure involves a shift of tax dollars from bond issues to permanent improvement funds.
Essentially, because of growth, the district is collecting more money on bond issues than it needs to repay debt. Because of this, the Union County Auditor is expected to reduce district’s collection rate on bond issues by 2 mills to appropriately service the debt.
Voters will be asked to approve an increase in permanent improvement funding equivalent to the reduction in bond funding. Permanent improvement funds are used for large-scale purchases such as roofing, paving and boilers.
If voters allow the additional money to flow into the permanent improvement coffers, the district can shift some money from that fund and into operating expenses.
With this additional money being shifted to operating expenses, Johnson believes the district can delay the need for a future “new money” levy until 2023, one year later than originally projected.
The board did not vote on the measure Thursday night and will vote on its final approval at the April board meeting.
The board also approved the contract for a new principal and assistant principal at the Early College High School.
Marysville graduate Ken Chaffin was approved by the board for a $115,000 contract as principal and Jodi Robertson, who was one of three finalists for the top position, was approved for an $80,265 contract as assistant principal.
Chaffin will replace Kathy McKinniss who is retiring at the end of this year. Chaffin got his teaching start in Marysville, and most recently served as principal at Grandview High School.
Chaffin called the appointment a “real honor” and said he is excited to partner with Robertson to further the vision of the district.
The assistant principal’s position is newly created.
Mankins said the Early College High School had operated with an administration of only a principal and guidance counselor. She said that because Robertson, who currently works at the school as a social studies teacher, emerged as such a strong candidate the decision was made to create the administrative position.
Mankins said the district is currently in the process of deciding if Robertson’s teaching position will have to be filled, but she believes it will.