LEXINGTON — Voters in the Lexington Local School District will see a renewal levy on this year’s March primary ballot.
The fixed-sum emergency levy was originally passed in 1999, according to district treasurer Jason Whitesel. It generates $2.7 million in operating revenue each year.
Whitesel said the levy revenue makes up about 10 percent of the district’s general fund. The general fund pays for things like teacher salaries, curriculum, technology, instructional supplies, utilities and student transportation.
“Ten percent of any budget is significant, so it’s very important for our operations,” Whitesel said.
Whitesel said the district hasn’t put a new operating levy on the ballot since 2011.
“Our community has always been supportive of our levies. We’ve never failed a renewal levy,” Whitesel said.
“We don’t take the support we receive from our community lightly, and we consistently look to make decisions to avoid having to ask for new operating money for as long as possible.”
Actual millage will be lower than what’s printed on the ballot
According to Whitesel, the millage will be listed on the ballot as 6.4 mills. In reality, the collection rate will be 4.9 mills.
You can blame the March primaries for that.
School districts must finalize their proposed ballot language at least 90 days prior to an election, according to Richland County Board of Elections Director Matt Finfgeld. So ballot issues for this year’s primary had to be in by Dec. 19, 2023.
The ballot language must include a millage rate certified by the county auditor, based on property valuations from the current year.
“If the primary would have been in May, I would have told everyone who asked to send me their requests after Jan. 1,” Richland County Auditor Pat Dropsey said.
For fixed-sum levies, millage rates fluctuate so the amount collected remains the same each year, even if property values change or new construction takes place.
Thus, the ballot states property owners will pay $224 for every $100,000 of appraised property value if the levy is renewed.
It will actually cost property owners $171.50 per $100,000 of appraised property value in 2024, prior to any statutory reductions.
These reductions vary by property but may include the rollback, homestead deductions and owner-occupancy credits.
