SHELBY — Voters in Shelby decided against constructing a new Pre-K through eighth grade building and football stadium at Tuesday’s election.
Unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections showed 2,245 votes (58.91 percent) against the bond issue, and 1,566 votes (41.09 percent) for the issue. The bond issue was a 3.9 mills, 34-year issue that would fund buildings and facilities.
“Of course, we’re disappointed that this issue did not pass,” said Superintendent Tim Tarvin. “With the defeat of this bond issue, we will be sitting down with our Board of Education in the near future to begin discussing and evaluating how we will move forward with this important district and community issue.
“Both sides are passionate about their beliefs and we will have to work harder to clarify our position, with the hope of convincing the community that what we are proposing is a need, not a want.”
The total cost of a new building to taxpayers would be $16,470,000. At 3.9 mills, the annual cost to an individual who owns a home valued at $100,000 would be $136 per year. That equals less than $12 per month for most taxpayers.
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) has $16,082,215 available to fund a new school facility in Shelby. This is 50 percent of the estimated $32,162,430 cost to build a new school. In order to receive the funds, the district must provide the other half of the project cost.
According to Tarvin, the district has three shots within a 13-month period to pass the bond issue and construct new facilities at the current proposed cost. Beyond those three tries, the price of a new building to taxpayers would rise.
“In theory, you can go back to the OFCC and try to remain on the list and go back on the ballot, but they would have to come in and recreate the master plan, which they’ve already done for us once that set the prices and everything else,” Tarvin said.
The bond issue would also replace a crumbling stadium at W.W. Skiles Field, located in downtown Shelby’s flood zone. According to an outside, independent agency inspection, the the life expectancy of the current football stadium is only four to eight years. Currently, architects estimate a new athletic facility to cost $2.8 million that would be included in the total cost on the ballot issue.
This isn’t the first time a ballot issue on buildings has failed in Shelby; the last levy to build a new school building in Shelby was passed in August 2010 after three attempts. That levy funded the construction of the new Shelby High School, which was completed in 2013.
Auburn Elementary was built in 1948, Dowds Elementary was built in 1956, and Shelby Middle School was built in 1965. The total cost of renovating all three buildings would be a minimum of $34.2 million, leaving $19 million to Shelby taxpayers after the state’s contributions. Building a new building would cost almost $3 million less to Shelby taxpayers, Tarvin said.
The superintendent thanked those associated with the city of Shelby and the school system that worked on behalf of the bond issue.
“I would like to point out that whether people voted yes or voted no, Shelby is a wonderful place to raise a family, to develop a business and to lay down roots,” Tarvin said. “The defeat of this bond issue does not change that fact.
“The Shelby City Schools district will continue to strive to provide an excellent educational opportunity for all students, and both staff and students will continue to work diligently to make excellent contributions to this community.”
