AUGLAIZE COUNTY — Auglaize County voters will consider a New Knoxville school levy, fire and EMS levies, a mental health levy and a permit for Sunday liquor sales this election.
New Knoxville school levy
The New Knoxville Local School District will seek an additional tax for general permanent improvements estimated to collect $587,000 annually, according to the ballot language. The 6.5 mills levy will amount to $228 for each $100,000 of appraised value.
“Top priorities include replacing the aging roof, purchasing a new handicapped-equipped school bus, and updating/replacing HVAC systems,” said Brittany Clark, a school board member and a member of the school’s levy and finance committees.
“We currently have leaks in the roof and certain classrooms where the temperature cannot be maintained. We also hope to expand classroom space which may include purchasing land and putting up a new building,” she said. “For example, our FFA program is rapidly growing, and we don’t have the space to accommodate. We also need to upgrade IT hardware and infrastructure, enhance security measures with more cameras and key fobs, and maintain masonry and painting tasks. Furthermore, the school aims to ensure the gym floors continue to receive annual wax and sealing and assure pavement repairs are addressed.”
Clark said the school — which was built in 1938 with four additions and upgrades in the past — has spent over $120,000 in the past two months in permanent improvements. The permanent improvement fund currently sits at $28,000.
“The amount we are asking for will be enough to cover all the issues that need repaired and replaced,” Clark said. “It will take a few years to pay for the new roof and HVAC repairs alone. After that, we will prioritize and hopefully be able to acquire land, add classroom space, and update the building which is way overdue.”
Clark said 6.5 mills is being asked because two bonds amounting to 6.5 mills expired at the end of 2022. The only levy still in effect is a 1.5 mill permanent improvement levy passed in 1985 that generates $40,000 per year.
Despite the need for maintenance and repairs in the current building, Clark said starting fresh by building a new school isn’t necessary yet.
“We currently don’t have enough land for a new school and that could be very difficult to acquire or require the school to be moved out of the middle of town,” Clark said.
Clark said board members are willing to meet community members or answer emails for any questions and encouraged the public to come to the next board meeting on Oct. 28 in the school media center at 7 p.m. An informational brochure will also be going out to families soon and there is a New Knoxville School Levy Facebook page.
Township levies for fire, EMS
Duchouquet Township will collect $239,000 annually over five years with a 2-mill replacement levy, amounting to $70 for each $100,000 of appraised value for the township’s contracted firefighting and ambulance services.
Fiscal Officer Cathy Oen said the four departments they’re contracted with are Wapakoneta, Cridersville, Buckland and Uniopolis. In 2024, she said the township received $162,422 to distribute to the departments.
“If we don’t pass it (the levy) they (township residents) wouldn’t have the protection and the EMS and the fire because otherwise we would have to take that out of our general fund so that would hinder the township road work and everything else,” Oen said.
German Township seeks a continuing 2.5-mill replacement and a 0.25-mill increase for fire and EMS equipment and employee training for the New Bremen/German Township Fire Department, according to Fiscal Officer Karen Balster. She said the department is also in the process of getting quotes for a new fire truck, so the funds could cover that as well. The levy would increase the cost for taxpayers by $10, amounting to $96 per $100,000 of appraised value.
Logan Township will have a continuing 1-mill replacement on the ballot to collect $43,000, amounting to $35 for each $100,000 of appraised value, to pay for contracted firefighting and EMS services. Fiscal Officer Nikki Stolzenburg said the money goes to the Buckland and Cridersville fire departments.
“Our problem was, the last time this levy was done, the property values have drastically increased. But the money we’re getting is still generated on the old values,” Stolzenburg said, mentioning the last levy in the township was five years ago.
St. Marys Township is looking for a continuing 1-mill replacement and a 1.6-mill increase to purchase and maintain fire equipment. It would collect $350,000 annually, collecting $91 for each $100,000 of appraised value.
Fiscal Officer Ronald Sudman said the money will go to the St. Marys Township Fire Department.
“As the township hasn’t asked the residents for any additional fire funding since 1995, the replacement levy will allow the St. Marys Township Fire Department to continue to operate as one of the few township fire departments in the area and to provide the best fire protection to its residents for many years to come,” Sudman said. “Without these additional tax levy funds, it will be very difficult for the township fire department to continue.”
Noble Township seeks a 0.7-mill replacement for five years for contracted firefighting and EMS services. It will collect $42,000 annually, amounting to $25 for each $100,000 of appraised value.
Wayne Township, including the village of Waynesfield, will have a five-year, 1-mill replacement levy on the ballot for providing and maintaining fire and EMS equipment and the department’s employees. It will collect $49,000 annually with $35 from each $100,000 of appraised value.
Jackson Township proposes a renewal levy of 3 mills for three years, amounting to $77 for each $100,000 of appraised value, for providing and maintaining fire and EMS equipment and the department’s employees.
Village levies for fire, EMS
New Bremen has two five-year levies on the ballot: a 1-mill additional to provide and maintain fire equipment — which gets $35 from each $100,000 of appraised value — and a 2-mill replacement for EMS services — with $70 coming from each $100,000 of appraised value.
The county auditor estimated Cridersville will collect $70,000 annually with a 3 mill renewal over four years, amounting to $63 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for providing and maintaining fire or EMS equipment and the department’s employees.
Minster will also seek a 3 mill renewal over three years — amounting to $323,000 annually with $74 collected for each $100,000 of the appraised value — to also provide and maintain fire or EMS equipment. The ballot language includes mention of mechanical resuscitators and underwater rescue and recovery equipment. The funds could also be used for the department’s employees.
Mental health levy
Like Allen County, Auglaize County will also decide on supporting mental health services with the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties’ .5 mill, 10-year renewal levy for current expenses. The levy generates approximately $1.7 million annually and amounts to $10 for each $100,000 of taxable value as determined by the county auditor’s office.
Liquor sales
St. Marys precinct 3-A will vote on the option for the Sunday sale of beer, wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor at the Community Arts Center, 119 W. Spring St., St. Marys.
Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
