LEXINGTON — The Lexington Local School district seeks voter approval Nov. 6 for an 8.6-mill bond issue to construct two new buildings.
The goal is to replace the five current buildings with two buildings — one for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and the other seventh grade through grade 12.
The first building will have two wings with pre-kindergarten through grade four on one side and grades four through six on the other.
The second building will have two wings as well, with one wing for grades seven and eight and the other wing for high school.
Supt. Mike Ziegelhofer said now is the cheapest and most efficient time to vote “yes” for the district.
“The (Ohio Facilities Construction Committee) will pay 53 percent of the cost of construction if the bond passes,” he said. “So (district) taxpayers will only need to pay 47 percent ($55.9 million).”
If the issue is approved, the superintendent said construction could begin as soon as spring or fall of 2021, with planning beginning in the second half of 2019.
He said the district and state are not able to begin any type of planning until the bond issue passes.
“This is a critical election for the future of the district,” Ziegelhofer said. “Success now is vital for us to be able to do this project for less than we will ever be able to again.”
He added there is no promise the state will pay more than half of the construction costs again and construction and interest rates are lower now than they may be for a long time.
“According to the state of Ohio, the only way to get in line for this project is to pass the bond,” he said.
Ziegelhofer said those with properties valued at $100,000 can expect to pay $26.54 per month as a result of the bond passing.
The bond has three tries at being passed, but the superintendent said now is the best opportunity.
“If it doesn’t pass now, it will change significantly,” he said, “(and) not for the better.”
