Tipp voters reject school bond issue; Piqua passes

ajc.com

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Voters in the Tipp City Exempted Village School District were defeating a controversial bond issue to build new classrooms Tuesday, while those in Piqua were approving a facility improvements proposal.

The unofficial vote with one voting location remaining to be counted was 61.77 percent against the Tipp City proposal and 38.23 percent for it.

The Tipp City board of education agreed a week ago to go forward with the bond on a proposed 27-year bond issue to do renovations and add classrooms at the L.T. Ball building. The project would replace the aging Nevin Coppock and Broadway elementary schools.

The board was encouraged by some district residents to pull the bond issue request from the ballot after the Ohio School Facilities Commission on April 26 notified the superintendent that the state’s 35 percent funding share could be in jeopardy because of differences in the district facility master plan and application for funding and the proposal presented to voters in recent months for a project to serve students prekindergarten through grade five.

The unofficial vote with one voting location yet to report was 69.95 percent for and 30.05 percent against the Piqua schools levy.

Piqua City Schools district voters were asked to adjust an existing levy for facility improvements, renewing the current 1.8 mills and adding another 1.2 mills. The addition would cost another $42 a year for a $100,000 home. District leaders said they are paying off the Piqua Junior High bond issue early, which would eliminate that millage and offset the new cost.

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