Franklin will seek bond issue for new school buildings on November ballot

The Franklin Board of Education Monday approved placing a 6.52-mill bond issue on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. If approved, it would generate more than $66 million to build a new high school, three new elementary schools and renovate the current high school for use as the new junior high school. FILE PHOTO


Franklin City Schools is asking voters to continue their support by voting for Issue 2, a 15.89 mill, five-year substitute levy which renews two emergency levies that voters have previously approved. The district has used the levy funding to improve curriculum, increase safety and security of the buildings including the hiring of a full-time SRO, and the expansion of technology. STAFF FILE PHOTO

The Franklin Board of Education Monday approved placing a 6.52-mill bond issue on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. If approved, it would generate more than $66 million to build a new high school, three new elementary schools and renovate the current high school for use as the new junior high school. FILE PHOTO Franklin City Schools is asking voters to continue their support by voting for Issue 2, a 15.89 mill, five-year substitute levy which renews two emergency levies that voters have previously approved. The district has used the levy funding to improve curriculum, increase safety and security of the buildings including the hiring of a full-time SRO, and the expansion of technology. STAFF FILE PHOTO

Voters in the Franklin City School District will decide in November if the district should begin its construction program to build four new buildings and renovate another building.

The Franklin Board of Education unanimously approved the resolution to proceed with putting the 6.52-mill bond issue for building construction project on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

The 37-year, 6.52-mill bond issue will generate just more than $66 million so the district can participate in the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission’s Expedited Local Partnership Plan by raising Franklin’s portion of the cost. Those include a new high school with career tech, renovation of the existing high school for use as a middle school housing grades 6-8 and other site improvements.

Warren County Auditor Matt Nolan said the bond issue will cost the owner of home valued at $100,000 about $228.20 a year in additional property taxes.

In addition, the other local funded initiatives that will be included in the local bond issue and are not covered by state funding, include a new bus garage, moving the central office into the new high school building, installing gas and other utility lines, and the demolition of Hampton Bennett School for a new student parking lot.

Superintendent Michael Sander previously said the new high school would not have an auditorium and would use the auditorium now at the current high school on East Fourth Street. In addition, the roof at the current high school would be replaced, he said.

The board approved the overall $115 million project in May which also includes construction of three new elementary schools, which is about 57 percent of the overall project and those costs will be paid by the state when those funds become available.

District officials were told in April 2019 that there would be a slowdown in state school building construction funding and there would not be funding to assist Franklin schools until 2027. In May 2019, the board opted to move forward with a new building project through the state’s Expedited Local Partnership Program, which allows the project could be done in phases.

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