Olentangy board approves resolution to proceed with $235 million no-new-millage bond for two schools

The Olentangy Local School District board voted to proceed with a levy to authorize the issuance of $235,000,000 in bonds that the district says would allow construction of an elementary school and a new high school without increasing the current tax rate.

Board President (unnamed) said the proposal responds to rapid enrollment growth in Delaware County and Olentangy: "we've been adding 500 new students every single year for the past decade," and the funds would address "the most pressing areas of need" without a higher millage on taxpayers.

District staff and board members said the measure is narrower than a failed 2024 levy. Mister Meyer, who presented enrollment projections, said the district added more than 5,000 students in the past decade and expects another 22% growth over the next 10 years. He described capacity pressures on elementary schools (current capacity cited as 625 with several schools currently over 700 and projected to reach about 900 by 2027) and said high school construction requires several years: "it takes 3 years to construct a high school," with a target opening of 2028 if planning and funding proceed now.

Mister Jenkins, speaking about tax mechanics, said "no new millage" means the district will not increase the tax rate because existing debt-service mills (6 mills) will cover the proposed issue. He explained that Ohio law requires ballot language to state the maximum mills that could be collected for the issue even when the board plans not to collect them. Jenkins said the board intends to adopt a resolution not to collect the additional 1.77 mills that the statute allows.

Board members emphasized timing and cost. Meyer told the board that waiting increases construction costs and cited a figure of "$10,800,000.0 more to start now than it was 2 years ago." Board discussion noted that the ballot statement may list a potential millage amount even if the board will not use it.

The roll-call vote to approve the resolution to proceed with the levy recorded affirmative votes from those present and the resolution was approved. The board said it will return to the auditor and refine implementation steps in the coming weeks; if the measure passes and schedules hold, the district expects an elementary to open in 2027 and a new high school in 2028.

Next steps: board members said they will meet with the county auditor, share information with the community, and bring a related resolution back to the board for final authorization in August.