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Facts and Information
Operational Renewal Levy for Greenville City Schools
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.
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