Grove City

South-Western City Schools Levy Passed by 448 Votes

By Angela Murphy on November 5, 2009

By EVAN BROOKS, ThisWeek Staff Writer

After one year and four attempts, a South-Western City Schools levy passed by 448 votes on Nov. 3. The levy passed with 19,578 “yes” votes, or 50.58 percent. Votes against totaled 19,130, or 49.42 percent, according to unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of elections.

Because the win was so close, neither side of the campaign would declare defeat or victory Tuesday night. Pro-levy residents and school board members were full of hope, while anti-tax standard-bearer Terry Jones said he was “exhausted.” “I think it’s passing,” school board president Cathy Johnson said at about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 3. “I believe it’s going to pass. I’m very optimistic. I think it’s going to pass.”

Those in favor of the levy gathered at the Grove City Church of the Nazarene to watch election results. Jill Billman-Royer, a co-chair for the pro-levy group Citizens for South-Western City Schools, said those gathered at the church left at about 10:30 p.m. The levy outcome was too close to call at that point, she added. “You know, there’s pretty positive energy here,” she said. “Everybody has hope.” Jones, however, said he is “cautiously confident” that the levy will fail. He said he was “exhausted” because of the campaigning he and other South-Western Alternatives to Taxes members have done, as well as, those with Citizens for SWCS. “You just wear out,” he said. “It’s exhausting for everybody.”

Issue 47, a 7.4-mill continuous operating levy, will add $227 annually to every $100,000 of assessed property value. It will generate $18.5-million in school district revenue each year.

The district was prepared to make $8-million in budget cuts had the levy failed.  The additional cuts would have involved continued elimination of extracurricular activities, further busing cuts and reduction of 85 employee positions. With passage will come the restoration of sports, extracurricular activities, high school busing and use of school facilities class time hours.

Now, however, the extracurricular activities will come with a fee. High school athletics will cost $150 per participant per sport. Marching band will cost $100. Middle school athletics will cost $75 and clubs $20.

ebrooks@thisweeknews.com