MARION, OH (MARION COUNY NOW)—River Valley Local School District leaders and supporters breathed a sigh of relief this week after receiving word that both tax issues on the 2023 general election ballot passed.
The Marion and Morrow county boards of elections completed the final canvass of the general election this week and certified the results, which showed that both the 1% income tax renewal and $10 million bond issue/permanent improvement levy both won support from district voters.
The income tax renewal, which will be in effect for a term of five years, was approved by a final count of 2,447 votes in favor and 2,345 votes against it. The bond issue/permanent improvement levy passed by a final tally of 2,432 votes in favor and 2,352 votes against it.
“First, we are extremely grateful for our community passing the income tax renewal and the Bond and permanent improvement (PI) issue,” River Valley Superintendent Adam Wickham said. “As a result of our community passing these issues, it allows the district to have designated funds for daily operational expenses and permanent improvement items.”
The final count for the income tax renewal in Marion County showed 2,344 votes for the measure and 2,261 votes in opposition to it. In Morrow County, the final tally was 103 votes in favor of the income tax and 84 votes against it.
The final official tally for the bond issue/permanent improvement levy in Marion County was 2,337 votes in favor of the levy and 2,258 votes against it. The final count in Morrow County was much slimmer, with the measure passing by a 95 to 94 count.
The 1.93 mills bond issue will be in effect for a term of 20 years, while the 2.5 mills permanent improvement levy will be in effect for a term of five years.
Wickham said successful passage of the income tax and bond issue/permanent improvement tax levy will allow River Valley Local Schools “to keep our great programs and staffing in place. Then the bond and permanent improvement (PI) fund can be used for designated purposes, instead of these costs coming out of the general fund.”
“The bond allows us to address immediate needs like roofs and HVAC,” Wickham explained. “The PI fund is critical for items like buses, desks, chairs, ongoing building expenses, and other capital improvements especially as our facilities are now over 20 years old. During the campaign, the district provided a wide range of transparent and factual information.”
Wickham noted that the district and levy committee (RV for Kids) attempted to provide as much information as possible to the general public in the months prior to the election.
“This was done through direct mailings, social media posts, and one key piece was the tax tool which showed property owners their current and estimated tax information for their specific property,” Wickham said. “The Marion County Auditor’s Office was instrumental in developing the (online) tax tool which showed this critical information.”
River Valley Local Schools made an unsuccessful attempt to pass the income tax renewal and bond issue/permanent improvement levy during the May 2 primary election. An attempt to win support for the renewal of the income tax failed during the Nov. 8, 2022, general election.