Oakwood levy passes; will pay for school expenses and renovations

Oakwood schools Superintendent Kyle Ramey discusses school funding concerns with a stair-step chart. Ramey said each time the district’s voters approve a levy, revenue goes up, creating a surplus. But he said expenses have been an ever-increasing line, eventually catching up to the new revenue level, creating the need for a new levy. Some Oakwood residents want the expenses line to level off. JEREMY P. KELLEY / STAFF

Oakwood schools Superintendent Kyle Ramey discusses school funding concerns with a stair-step chart. Ramey said each time the district’s voters approve a levy, revenue goes up, creating a surplus. But he said expenses have been an ever-increasing line, eventually catching up to the new revenue level, creating the need for a new levy. Some Oakwood residents want the expenses line to level off. JEREMY P. KELLEY / STAFF
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May 7, 2019
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Oakwood’s two-part school levy passed by a solid margin Tuesday night, according to unofficial final results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

With all seven precincts reporting, there were 1,364 votes for the levy and 1,122 votes against, for a 55-45 ratio in favor.

LIVE RESULTS

MORE DETAILS: School officials talk about levy specifics

Oakwood City Schools’ levy is a combination levy/bond that will raise money for $18 million in renovations to the district’s 90-year-old schools, as well as pay for day-to-day operating costs.

The first piece is a permanent 4.99-mill levy to pay for higher personnel and operating expenses, which costs an extra $174.65 annually for a $100,000 home. The second part is a 37-year, 2.71-mill bond for the renovations, costing $94.85. That makes the total cost $269.50 per $100,000 of property value.

RELATED: Oakwood ranks No. 1 in test scores, “prepared for success”

The district has since offered a detailed estimate of how the $18 million from the bond will be used, with work to be completed by fall 2021. Harman and Smith elementaries will get $1 million each for roofing, boiler replacement and restroom work.

The other $16 million will go to the high school-junior high complex — $7.2 million for heating/ventilation/air conditioning improvements, $3.9 million for roofing, and between $1 million and $2 million each for plumbing, electrical and technology/security upgrades.

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Jeremy Kelley is the assistant news editor for the Dayton Daily News. Jeremy is a Cincinnati native and has lived in the Dayton area for 30-plus years.