Upcoming Election Day Operational Renewal Levy for Greenville City Schools Facts and Information From Superintendent Doug Fries

This fall on Election Day, our school district will have an operational renewal levy on the ballot. This levy will have no new taxes but is simply the renewal of an existing 5.50 mill tax levy that has been in existence since 1996.

Again, this renewal levy will appear on the November 3, 2020 ballot as approved by the board of education and it represents no new taxes, just a continuation for another five-year cycle for what exists in our current operational cycle. This renewal levy would also allow the homestead reduction factor to continue for qualifying residents.

The election day renewal levy will appear on the ballet as issue 7. Since March of 1996, this levy has been brought to the ballot six times with successful passage by the voters of the district. This levy represents no change in taxes, since it receives no inflationary increases with values. It brings approximately $2,080,110.00 to the district annually and supports education within our district.

The levy is for general operations. This money has always been spent for district maintenance, school buses, school books, technology, salaries, and whatever it takes to keep the daily operations going for the good of students.

Some additional facts to consider:

• Over the past seven years the district has become a one-to-one technology district providing iPad devices for every student and teacher in the district. This is provided totally by district general funds or grants. No technology fee has ever been assigned to any family. This district purchase served the district and community well during last year’s Stay at Home Order. This year the one-to-one devise implementation is supporting our remote learning and the establishment of our Canvas Learning Management System.
• Last year the district successfully refinanced the bonds at the K-8 building and the high school renovation. In restructuring the financing at both buildings, the district tax payers saved 18.35% over the life of the bonds. This is an overall savings to the district tax payers on the K-8 building project and high school renovation of $10,528,594.00 again over the life of the bonds. District tax payers saw a reduction on their last tax settlement because of the refinancing.
• During the pandemic last spring our transportation, food service, para professionals, custodians, and administrators worked together to serve 16,750 free student lunches to students who ordered them. We continue this year to have curbside pick up of lunches for remote students who order them at no charge through December of this year.
• Our district does not incorporate an athletic or extra-curricular pay to participate fee. We are working hard to maintain this practice so all kids can participate in extra-curriculars without an established fee. More than half the schools in the Miami Valley League have such a fee. 

Remember, passage of the renewal levy would continue the homestead reduction factor for qualifying tax payers in the community. There will be no new taxes from passage of this levy.

Please be sure to vote in the November 3rd election. Issue 7 is the renewal issue for Greenville City Schools.