ISSUE 16: THE NEED REMAINS
In July, The Board of Education passed the second resolution to place a bond issue on the November 2023 ballot for the construction of a new high school. This differs from Issue 5 in May 2023 where the district was seeking funds for both a high school and an elementary school.
Following the failure of Issue 5 in May, a decision was made to focus solely on the high school to address its overcrowding and infrastructure issues. We believe this is the best solution right now for both the community of North Ridgeville and the school district.
For more information on Issue 16, you can watch the recording of the Community Forum that was held on September 18 at the high school. This includes presentations from the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Operations, Treasurer, and members of the Board of Education.
THE PROJECT - Safety to thrive, Space to learn, Environment for excellence.
Issue 16: The Need Remains is seeking funds for the construction of a new flagship high school, an attached auditorium to support arts programming, and a transportation center for bussing and maintenance.
Our growing North Ridgeville community has led to increased enrollment in the school district. The high school currently has 1,447 students enrolled, but the building capacity is only 900 students. Modular units and using every inch of available space is no longer sufficient for our students. As the diagram shows below, the current square footage of the high school is 147,000 and in order to accommodate our enrolled students, 272,000 square feet is needed.
THE FINANCIALS
The November 2023 bond issue is seeking $143,015,000 over 37 years which is calculated as 6.26 mills for each $1 of taxable value. This equates to $18.25 per month or $219 per year for every $100,000 of the County Auditor’s appraised total market value.
What is a fixed sum bond?
A bond issue is essentially a “fixed sum bond,” so your taxes are not going to go up if the value of your home goes up. The schools cannot collect more than they are asking, regardless of how much your home is worth over time. Given the rate of growth in North Ridgeville, it’s likely that the taxes associated with this bond would actually decrease when new homes and businesses are added. You are taking the same fixed sum and now spreading it over a larger tax base. This happens because there are more people who are helping to pay. Please see the example below.
Click here to use our bond calculator to see the monthly and annual cost to you based on the County Auditor's appraised total market value of your home.
VOTER RESOURCES
Voter registration for the November 2023 election is now open. If you are not registered to vote, you can do so by clicking here. If you are already registered, please spread the word to your NR friends and family and help them get registered. Every single vote counts. Make sure your voice is heard.
VOTING FAQs
- Am I registered to vote? Not sure if you are registered to vote in this November's election? Click here to check your status.
- Where should I vote? Election day is Tuesday, November 7. Polls are open 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Click here to find your polling location.
- Can I vote absentee? Yes. To request an absentee ballot, click here. Download the application form, then complete it, sign it and return the form to the Lorain county Board of Elections at 1985 North Ridge Road East, Lorain, OH 44055
KEY DATES
October 10, 2023 - Voter Registration closes
October 11, 2023 - Early in-person and absentee voting begins
November 7, 2023 - Polls open
FAQs
We have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions regarding Issue 16 and the district. You can see those here.
