2024 levy information

On May 8, the Bexley Board of Education took the first step toward placing an operating levy on the November 2024 ballot that is expected to sustain the district for at least five years.

The proposed levy would fund the daily operations of Bexley schools — paying for the teachers and staff who educate our kids; textbooks and supplies; and basic functions, like heating and powering buildings.

Bexley voters last passed an operating levy in 2019. That levy was expected to last three years but instead has sustained Bexley schools for five years. But, with expenses now outpacing revenues, it’s time to recommit to our schools.

How the new levy would work

The 2024 levy would phase-in new millage, creating stability for the schools and avoiding large annual increases in property taxes for homeowners. Voters will be asked to approve a levy that will collect 5 mills initially (in 2025), followed by additional 2.5-mill increments for the following four years (2026-2029).

Compared to a traditional levy, this phased-in, “incremental” approach has a number of benefits:

• The district doesn’t collect revenue until it needs it. The phased-in levy is designed to increase revenue in line with projected expenses. By contrast, traditional levies collect more than is needed in the early years (creating surpluses) to extend their lifespans in the later years (when schools are operating on annual deficits.)

• It will last longer. The phased-in levy is expected provide stable operating support for at least five years. A traditional levy would start with a higher millage (and higher taxes) and likely would require the district to return to the ballot more quickly.

• Stable, predictable funding for operations is especially important at this moment. The Bexley community is currently discussing what kind of improvements are needed for our school buildings. The facilities planning process is still underway, but it could result at some point in a request for voters to approve funding for facilities improvements. The phased-in operating levy will help make a future ballot question about facilities more manageable – regardless of what decision our community makes about facilities.

What would it cost?

For every $100,000 of home value, the phased-in levy will cost:

• $15 per month ($175 annually) in the first year of collections (2025), when the 5-mill increase would go into effect.

• An additional $7 per month (about $88 annually) for each of the 2.5-mill increments in collection years 2026-2029.

What happens next?

The Board of Education will formally decide in June whether to place this incremental levy request on the November 2024 ballot.

If that happens, the Committee for Bexley Excellence will work over the coming months to help explain why the levy is needed - and the benefits of this phased-in approach to operating funding.

Previous generations of Bexley residents have created a legacy of excellent schools, and are we committed to sustaining that commitment for today’s kids and into the future.