Several big school districts to have tax levy votes in May election

Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Northmont and Oakwood are among numerous communities that will decide school funding on the ballot
Beavercreek High School students  study in the district's new computer science career tech class Thursday November 21, 2024. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Credit: Jim Noelker

Credit: Jim Noelker

Beavercreek High School students study in the district's new computer science career tech class Thursday November 21, 2024. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

School tax levies are likely to dominate the May 6 election ballot in the Dayton area, as several large to mid-sized districts are seeking tax increases.

Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Northmont, Oakwood, Mad River and Franklin are just the largest of nearly a dozen communities where voters will decide on school funding.

Wednesday afternoon was the deadline for schools, cities, townships and other government entities to file levy requests with their county board of elections. Some of those issues have already been certified to the ballot, and the others will be certified in the next two weeks.

Very few candidate races will be on the May ballot, and the most prominent of those — the primary for Dayton mayor and city commission — has a later filing deadline, March 7, per the city’s charter, so it’s not clear yet who will be running.

There are a small handful of races where the candidate filing deadline was 4 p.m. Wednesday — city offices in Huber Heights, Miamisburg and Troy, as well as Municipal Court Judge races around the region — but many of those will go uncontested, with only one candidate running.

School tax/bond levies

Two of the most prominent school tax issues are in districts seeking to upgrade their facilities.

The Beavercreek school district is asking voters to approve the same 37-year, 4.9-mill bond issue that they rejected in November. The money would pay to build a new high school and renovate other buildings as school officials say they need to adjust for expected growth.

For Oakwood’s 33-year, 4.74-mill bond issue, school officials say 85% of the money would pay to update to Smith (1929) and Harman (1908) elementary schools, plus some targeted projects at Oakwood High School/Junior High School and Lange School.

Voters cast their ballots at the North Huber Heights Baptist Church on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. MARSHALL GORBY / STAFF

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* Beavercreek — 37-year, additional, 4.9-mill bond issue for school construction

* Huber Heights — Permanent, additional, 6.9 mills for current expenses

* Northmont — 10-year, additional, 3.44 mills for operations

* Mad River — Permanent, additional, 2.9 mills for permanent improvements

* Oakwood — 33-year, additional, 4.74-mill bond issue for school facilities work

* Jefferson Twp. — Permanent, additional, 1.5% earned income tax for current expenses

* Franklin — Five-year, additional, 6.301 mills, emergency levy for operations

* The other school tax issues on the May ballot are renewals of existing taxes — a property tax (millage) levy in Tipp City, and income tax levies in Bethel, Milton-Union and New Lebanon.

City/township/other tax levies

Some smaller Greene and Warren County communities are seeking tax increases for public safety.

In southern Greene County, residents in the neighboring communities of Bellbrook and Sugarcreek will decide on property tax levies.

In Warren County, city of Franklin voters will decide on an increase in fire department funding in the same election when their school district is seeking more money, too.

* Franklin city — Permanent, additional, 4.9 mills, for fire service

* Bellbrook city — Permanent, additional 2.2 mills for public safety

* Sugarcreek Twp. — Five-year, additional, 1.0 mill for fire service

* Huber Heights city — 10-year renewal of 0.25% income tax for police, fire, EMS and general fund

* West Carrollton city — Five-year renewal of 3.9 mills for fire & EMS

* German Twp. — 10-year, additional, 4.0 mills for fire & EMS service (entire township)

* Harveysburg — Five-year, additional, 2.5 mills, for police service

* Troy-Miami County Public Library — Five-year, additional, 1 mill, for current expenses

There are several other renewal and replacement levies across the region.

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