WESTERVILLE — Most of the Genoa Township and city of Westerville readers of The Gazette will get to vote for the Westerville City School District levy/bond request on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Simply, this is a 4.9-mill operating levy and 1.66-mill bond issue. The ballot language from the Delaware County Board of Elections reads as follows:

“Shall the Westerville City School District be authorized to do the following:

“1. Issue bonds for the purpose of constructing school facilities; renovating, improving and constructing additions to school facilities, including safety and security improvements; furnishing and equipping the same; and improving the sites thereof under the Expedited Local Partnership Program of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission in the principal amount of $140,000,000, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of 37 years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period 1.66 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $58 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?

“2. Levy an additional property tax to pay current operating expenses, that the county auditor estimates will collect $20,832,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 4.9 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $172 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for a continuing period of time?”

The district has held community forums on the request, and the district has provided an overview of the questions and answers on its website.

For example, it was said that the levy was supposed to be on the ballot last year, but the district stretched resources to delay the ballot request.

However, “Given expiring federal funds, cuts in state funding, and increased costs, the district must now request additional local funding,” the Q&A said.

As a reminder, the operating levy money goes for people and programs, while the bond money goes to buildings and facilities.

More specifically, WCSD said “4.9-mills operating funds would allow the district to: Maintain current instructional programming and services, maintain support to meet the specialized learning needs of students, continue attracting and retaining high-quality staff in a highly competitive market.” If the levy did not pass, the district said, “officials would need to evaluate how to address an additional $20.8 million operating revenue shortfall.”

The 1.66-mills bond funds would purchase: “Renovations and additions at four schools that opened in the 1960s, building infrastructure across the district that includes technology, safety and security updates, improvements for performing arts spaces, high school stadium support spaces, parking lots and playgrounds,” the district said.

The four buildings are Cherrington and Huber Ridge elementary schools, and Blendon and Walnut Springs middle schools.

”The 1.66-mill bond portion of the levy will generate $140 million and would be structured so it does not increase property tax millage,” the district said. “Bond funds, along with resources transferred into a Capital Projects Fund, will support $170 million in facility projects outlined in the District’s Facility Master Plan.”

Driving around the district, there did not appear to be any organized opposition to the levy. Recently, the Westerville City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to end released time during the school day for religious instruction offsite by Hilliard-based program LifeWise Academy.

For more information, visit www.wcsoh.org/levy.

Assistant Editor Gary Budzak covers the eastern half of Delaware County and surrounding areas. He can be reached at 740-413-0906.