By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport Madison school district voters will see a levy on the Nov. 5 ballot.
On July 10, the Groveport Madison Board of Education approved a resolution to proceed with the renewal of the existing, 5-year, 6.68 mill operating levy with no tax increase.
Treasurer John Walsh said the board’s action was the final step needed to confirm placing the levy on the November ballot.
The current operating levy will expire on Dec. 31, 2019. According to Superintendent Garilee Ogden, if the levy is not renewed the district will see deficits of $2.8 million in 2020 and close to $6 million in 2021.
Ogden has said if the levy is not renewed the “consequences could be severe” with potential cuts and reductions. She said this summer district officials will discuss potential cuts to be made if the levy were to fail this fall. She said information about these potential cuts would be released in August or September. She said an analysis will be made of what could be cut without greatly impacting academic opportunities for students.
The board’s decision to go with only a levy on the November ballot has delayed plans to present a bond issue to fund new buildings to the voters. The board could revisit the bond issue proposal next year or later.
