FAQ

This is a generational, long-term solution that will Give Back to the Community, Build on our Foundation of Exceptional Schools and Continue Fiscal Responsibility. We can BUILD TOMORROW TOGETHER!

1. GREENMEN LEGACY - Give Back to the Community

   • COMMUNITY HUB: A new high school that serves as a hub for school activities and events and builds Greenman pride, and a generational legacy.

   • COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION: Renovations and enhancements serve as a testament to the community's commitment to education and our collective future.

   • SITE ENHANCEMENTS: The addition of community walking trails & other outside spaces encourage community use.

   • CULTURAL AMENITIES: By providing state-of-the-art amenities such as an auditorium for theater and music, the levy supports cultural enrichment and strengthens the bond between the school and the community, creating a legacy for future generations to cherish.

   • PROPERTY VALUES: Strong schools maintain high property values and are crucial for Aurora’s prosperity.

2. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE - Build on our Foundation of Exceptional Schools

   • CAREER READINESS: A new high school ensures career and future readiness for all our students.

   • HIGH STANDARDS: Aurora City Schools is a top-performing district in Ohio and this plan ensures the educational facilities match their high academic standards.

   • ENHANCED LEARNING: Upgrades and repairs for all school buildings to enhance the learning environment, making the best use of current school resources.  

   • UPDATED FACILITIES: Modern facilities are long-term investments, ensuring exceptional student outcomes and that we have a desirable community for our families and businesses.

3. INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT - Continue Fiscal Responsibility

• AGING BUILDINGS: Address the 100-year-old Craddock Elementary School which is draining the district’s annual permanent improvement funds.

• OVERCROWDING: Address the overcrowding in schools, eliminate the existing trailers and provide ample space for future community growth in all buildings.

• MECHANICAL SYSTEMS: A smart plan that addresses mechanical systems to get more life out of current facilities and increase their longevity.

• SAFETY UPGRADES: Safety and security enhancements, including ADA access and site improvements, ensure equitable access for all students and staff, promoting inclusivity and fairness within the educational environment.

VIEW VIDEOS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT WHY THEY ARE VOTING FOR BOND ISSUE #32

OVERALL COST: $136 Million total - 7.57 Mills for 37 years at an estimated 4.5% interest rate.

COST TO TAXPAYERS: $265/year ($22/month) per $100K of  2023 appraised property value.

NO ZERO COST OPTION: If the Bond Issue fails we will still be maintaining old building, which is costly & requires continuous repairs.

The district will still have to:

• PAY PLANNING FEES: ~$75,000 in fees would be owed to our architecture firm. (If bond passes, all fees associated with the project, including those generated from the planning stages, will be rolled into the bond.) If the bond issue were to fail the district would still need to cover the cost of the architectural firm ($40,000), traffic study ($17,000), and attorney fees ($15,000) which would be around $75,000.  

• REVISIT HOW BEST TO MAINTAIN CRADDOCK: The district would need to revisit how best to maintain Craddock Elementary which is estimated to cost over one million dollars.  There would still be capacity concerns which we have seen before when the community said “no” to a new high school in 1993.  

• ADDRESS HVAC ISSUES AT HIGH SCHOOL FROM PREVIOUS AD-HOC ADDITIONS: The cost of adding on to the high school during the following 15 years was over $20 million dollars which was four million more than the cost of building a new high school in 1993.   There is also the hidden cost of running a large building that has been expanded four times which includes issues with leaking roofs as well as heating/cooling challenges.

• DEAL WITH CAPACITY ISSUES:

  • Miller’s current capacity is 139%, meaning it is currently very crowded.  Craddock (81.5%), Leighton (97.6%), Harmon (90.3%), and AHS is currently at 81.4%.  

  • Keeping only kindergarten at Miller will lower the capacity from 139% to approximately 95%

  • Moving PreK, 1st, and 2nd grades as Leighton’s capacity would drop from nearly 98% capacity down to 72%.

  • Harmon would have the smallest capacity dropping from 90% as a middle school to 88% as an intermediate school

  • The “old” high school would provide plenty of room for the middle school students and staff even if we utilize some of the space to relocate the Board Offices.  Under this plan the Board Offices would occupy eight classrooms in the “old” high school which would drop the estimated capacity from around 1200 down to nearly 1000, but with the current middle school enrollment numbers that is still only at 70% capacity which leaves plenty of room for growth.

  • The proposed new high school, at 1300 students, would also have little capacity concerns with approximately 75% of the building’s capacity being filled

Public education is the bedrock of our society. Everyone contributes to ensure children receive a good primary education. This prepares kids to pursue apprenticeships, vocational degrees, military service, and other education that allows them to contribute back to society. It also ensures they pay back into the system funding property taxes, schools, Social Security, Medicare, and other essential programs. 

We can look around at other local communities and see the impact of failing schools. Families leave, property values drop, businesses close and take jobs with them, and crime and other social ills increase. The future of Aurora is in all of our hands. We live in a thriving community. Good public schools ensure Aurora continues to thrive and be a great place to live.

We are all in this together.  

Confused about taxes and home reappraisals?  It’s confusing and complicated! According to Matt Kelly, Portage County Auditor, “Bottom line, our property tax structure is overly complicated, outdated and needs immediate change,” from the Record-Courier dated Sept. 8, 2024 "Portage County auditor: ‘The current system is not sustainable for any of us’".  

Bond Cost to Homeowner?: The bond is 7.57 mills and the estimated cost to homeowners is $265 per year per $100,000 based on 2023 values. If this levy receives voter approval, the millage will remain at 7.57 mills until the following year after the County receives the bond debt schedule. When property values increase, the millage decreases.  

7.57 Millage Calculation Based on Your 2023 Appraised Value: Current calculations are based on 2023 property values because that is all the County has to work with at this time.  

Fixed-Sum Bond: If the bond passes, it’s a fixed-sum bond! Taxes can go up or down each year based on property values and local tax rates, but with a fixed-sum bond, the total amount collected for the bond will never be more than the 136 million requested by the school. Aurora Schools won’t receive more money than approved by the community!  

Taxes increase a fractional amount to property value increase: According to Treasurer Bill Volosin, the 33% increase in property values, the average for Aurora, will equate to a 6.5% increase in taxes. 

You can check how the bond affects you on the Portage County Auditor's webpage. Insert your property address and click Levy Information. * Based on 2023 because that is the only information available now. 

For additional questions, please reach out to school Treasurer Bill Volosin at bvolosin@aurora-schools.org or County Auditor Matt Kelly at mkelly@portageco.com. 

This article does a good job of explaining why Ohio school districts have so many school levies...it comes down to HB (House Bill) 920 passed in the 1970s - https://www.statenews.org/news/2023-11-29/why-ohio-has-more-school-levies-than-any-other-state

In Ohio, school districts rely on different types of local tax levies to raise funds. Each type serves a specific purpose:

1. Bond Issue:

   • A bond issue is used to raise money for long-term capital improvements, such as constructing new buildings, renovating existing ones, or acquiring land.

   • Voters approve the district's ability to borrow a specific amount of money by issuing bonds, which must be repaid over time, typically 20-30 years, with interest.

   • Taxes are collected to pay off the bonds over that period. Bond money cannot be used for daily operational costs or maintenance.

2. Operating Levy:

   • An operating levy generates funds for the day-to-day operations of the school district. This includes paying salaries, benefits, utilities, transportation, and supplies.

   • It is usually a property tax based on millage (rate per $1,000 of assessed property value), and it can be approved for a specific time period or as a continuing levy, which does not expire unless repealed by voters.

   • Operating levies do not cover capital improvements or major building projects.

3. Permanent Improvement Levy:

   • A permanent improvement levy raises funds for long-term maintenance and improvements of district facilities, such as repairing roofs, buying school buses, upgrading technology, or maintaining buildings.

   • The levy is used for items that have a lifespan of five years or more. Funds cannot be spent on operating costs (e.g., salaries or supplies).

   • Permanent improvement levies can also be set for a specific number of years or as a continuous levy.

See below for three different video email updates about infrastructure, finances and capacity from Superintendent Roberto.