ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Archbold School Board Discusses Funding For Middle School Project


Archbold School Board discussed its financial picture in light of the possibility of a middle school project during a work session, Monday, July 15.

Jayson Selgo, superintendent, said it will probably be 18 to 36 months before the board has enough questions answered to determine the steps toward a project.

This spring, the board approved the first step in the process, applying for funding to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission– the former Ohio School Facilities Commission– for partial funding of the project.

Selgo told board members the OFCC will review the current buildings in the district to see what is the most efficient use of state money.

Selgo said very preliminary discussions said the state would share about 30% of the overall cost.

But if the district uses OFCC money, it must follow OFCC recommendations and specifications.

The district does not have to accept OFCC money, and therefore, can avoid working to OFCC specs.

Building

Selgo said the middle school building, which is approximately 80 years old, is functioning well and serving its purpose.

But, he said, it is an older building.

At some point, when repairs are needed, the OFCC may decide it would rather fund new construction than continue to put money into the old structure.

An assessment of the middle school building was done by SSOE, an architectural and consulting engineering firm, in 2013-14.

That assessment indicated within 10 to 15 years, the board would have to consider replacing high-cost items such as HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) equipment or roofs.

Funding

Brett Kolb, Fulton County auditor, discussed several aspects of the financial picture of the district with the board.

He said currently, the Rover pipeline, a natural gas pipeline constructed in 2017 that runs through the district, paid close to $693,000 in taxes to the district for tax year 2018, payable in 2019.

Kolb said that figure will be reduced in years ahead, as Rover officials depreciate the value of the pipeline for tax purposes.

He estimated that if Rover officials take a 3% depreciation for tax year 2019, payable in 2020, Rover would contribute about $671,000 to the district.

Chris Ziegler, district treasurer, said two bond issues will soon expire.

The 1996 bond issue, which funded construction of the elementary school and renovations at the middle school, will be collected for the last time in 2021.

A 2000 bond issue to construct additional classroom at the high school will be collected for the last time in 2026.

Kolb said the two bond issues originally charged 4.12 mills and 1.1 mills against property owners.

Today, they charge 1.7 mills and .8 mill, respectively.

Kolb said the total tax value of the district is $251,138,090.

He presented a chart, showing how much revenue .1 mill through 10 mills would bring in.

A property tax levy of onetenth (.1) mill would raise $25,113.81, and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $3.50 per year.

One mill would generate $251,138.09, and cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 $35 per year.

Ten mills would generate $2,511,380.90, and cost $350 per year.

Kolb also discussed several details of taxes, including the six-year reevaluation of the properties in the county, the three-year triennial review of values, the elimination of the 12.5% property tax reduction, and Current Agricultural Use Values for farmland.

At the end of his talk, Kolb asked the board if there was anything else it would like to know.

“That’s plenty,” said Jeremy Hurst, a board member. 2017

The school board held a special meeting Sept. 18, 2017, to meet with a representative of The Collaborative, a Toledo architectural firm.

At that time, the board reviewed preliminary drawings for three possible construction projects, all aimed at moving the middle school students to the current elementary high school campus complex.

At that time, the board was talking about 65,000 square feet of new additions, with a cost of more than $15.6 million.

Selgo said the 2017 preliminary design was just that– preliminary.

The next meeting is Monday, Aug. 12, 5 pm, in the AHS media center.