Marysville school district seeks first passed levy in 15 years

MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s been 15 years since Marysville schools last passed a levy. That could change on Election Day.

After a failed attempt in 2023, Marysville School District is once again putting a levy on the ballot. In July, the Board of Education approved the final resolution required to move forward with the tax levy on November 5th. But if it fails, there’s a contingency plan in place.

People NBC4 spoke with said the result of this levy is going to impact the community for the next 10 years.

“It's time for the community to step up, provide the schools more funding so they can continue to be successful,” said Steve Cox, a Marysville levy committee co-chair.

Last year's failed levy resulted in a hiring freeze, with nearly 20 positions being cut. Leaders NBC4 spoke with said this levy would not restore those jobs, but help maintain where the district is today.

“If you look at the programs that would have to be cut, which is really everything but the state mandated programs, it would be devastating for the kids in this community, in the community in general," Cox said. "And the school would not be able to provide the same safe environment for kids they do today."

According to the district, if the levy is rejected, there will be an immediate elimination of all student resource officers, and starting in the winter of 2024, all extracurriculars with a pay to play will increase to $770 with no family cap, resulting in a 285% percent increase for one singular extracurricular.

“It's going to be very difficult for the average person to pay for their child to be able to do sports,” said Erica Goodwin, said the other levy committee co-chair.

For 2025 and beyond, job cuts would be made at elementary, middle and high school levels.

One thing on the top of everyone’s mind is taxes: how much will they go up? According to the district's website, taxes would go up $192.50 for every $100,000 of property value.

“If the levy fails, I would hope that they would look into other methods, maybe that are used at different communities, maybe in Ohio or around the country," Marysville resident Michael George. "And if it passes, then well, obviously, I'll have to factor that into my budgeting."

George is a homeowner with young children. He’s a graduate from Marysville Schools. He said he’s hopeful that whatever the outcome may be, the city and the district will work together to find a different solution.

“I'm really just hoping for an outcome that benefits the community at large and provides opportunities for our youth, for the children, for businesses,” George said.

A professor at Ohio State University said that while it may not be difficult to pass a levy, it can be harder depending on the economy.

“Particularly in Ohio, we have every few years we reassess property values and that results in people's property taxes changing somewhat," said Vladimir Kogan, professor of Political Science at OSU. "And so, if you have a levy on the ballot in the year that your county is doing their reassessment, that also often complicates, you know, it creates new challenges for districts trying to pass levies."

Levy co-chairs Cox and Goodwin said they understand that times are tight right now but that this is a generational change and creating a better future for the children.

To find out the exact amount you’d pay, click here.

If the levy is approved, the district will be able to collect additional revenue, through a TIF agreement with the city, approximately $900K. This revenue could reinstate the following:

• Supplemental Contracts for extracurriculars
• Transportation
• Class size caps for the 2025-26 school year

The Let's Talk School Levy site breaks down everything you’d need to know.