New Bremen, Versailles voters go to polls Tuesday

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SIDNEY — A limited number of Shelby County residents will be going to the polls to vote in Tuesday’s special election.

There are no countywide issues, nor any other races on Tuesday’s ballot, said Dawn Billing, Shelby County Board of Elections director. There are, she said, two school issues from neighboring counties where local residents of those districts will be casting their votes.

On the ballot for residents in the New Bremen Local School District is a proposed bond issue and additional tax levy for a total of 8.46 mills for the construction of a new elementary school.

The new school would be built through the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program of the Ohio School Facilities Commission and locally funded initiatives. The local amount to furnish, equip and improve the site for the construction is $14,365,745, to be repaid annually over a 30-year period. The amount of the property tax bond issue for the construction of the new building is 7.46 mills.

As part of the issue, the board is also requesting an additional 1 mill to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation andfinancing of permanent improvements.

If approved, the levy would provide funds to construct a new K-8 facility adjacent and connected to New Bremen High School.

The total cost of the project is $20,041,930, with the state paying $5,676,185 and the remainder — $14,365,745 — funded by local tax monies.

The current high school millage is 6.88 and the district will be paying off the bond issues this year. If the new levy is approved, taxpayers will see a millage rate increase of 1.78 mills from what they are paying now.

According the New Bremen School’s website, the younger students will be separated from the high school students by a connector between the new building and the existing high school. Because the facility would be built on the high school campus, the district can reduce costs through sharing building services and better utilize the teaching staff through scheduling flexibility.

Elementary school students will have access to the James F. Dicke Auditorium, the CBC and track.

The original section of the current K-8 building was constructed in 1929. An addition was added in 1956. A larger gym was added in 1968. A final addition of classrooms was added in 1991.

Voters who live in Shelby County will be voting at the New Bremen Senior Citizens Building.

Residents of the Versailles Exempted School District will be voting on a bond issue for the Miami Valley Career Technology Vocational School District to construct a new building under the State of Ohio Vocational Facilities Assistance Program.

According to the district’s website, the school board is asking voters to approve a 1.43 mill levy for the construction (.29 mills) , which is set at $34,357.734; improvements to facilities (.8 mills) including renovations, additions, equipment, technology, furnishings and site improvements, which is set at $95,490,959; and additional tax (.34 mills) for the enlarging, improving, erecting and equipping of buildings including maintenance of classroom facilities.

If approved the tax on a home valued at $100,000 would be $4.17 per month, or approximately $50 per year. After 10 years, the amount of the tax assessment would drop to 1.09 mills or approximately $3.18 per month, or $38 per year.

Voters who live in Shelby County will vote at the Knights of Columbus in Versailles.

All residents in Shelby County who reside in either of these school districts received a letter telling them where to vote on Tuesday or how to vote absentee. The Shelby County Board of Elections will answer phone calls or questions from the residents on election day. They will not be permitted to cast their votes at the Shelby County Board of Elections on Tuesday.

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By Melanie Speicher

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4822; follow her on Twitter @MelSpeicherSDN. Follow the SDN on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SidneyDailyNews.

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