ELECTION

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Parking and traffic flow would be reconfigured. The competition gym, auditorium, pool, and planetarium in the current building would be saved.

This project is also about more than just education. Parts of the current high school will be transformed into resources that benefit the entire Coshocton community, including: A job center and computer lab through Ohio Means Jobs; a full-service health clinic by Muskingum Valley Health Centers; expanded mental health and wellness services; and dedicated space for alternative and opportunity education programs.

Why is it important for voters to say yes? The cost to maintain Coshocton High School as it currently stands will continue to rise and the building will continue to deteriorate. Once this is on the ballot, the district has 13 months to secure its local share of the cost, and its important officials lock in certain numbers right now. Coshocton City Schools Superintendent Mark Kowalski understands this is a big ask from the community, but also knows this is the cheapest ask they can do at this point in time.

The new building will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, science labs, a cafeteria, and gym – all designed to support hands-on learning, career readiness, and student collaboration. It will include upgraded technology, safer entrances, and enhanced facilities that create a space where learning can flourish.

This is a $ 47.6 million project, but Coshocton residents won’ t pay for most of it. The State of Ohio is covering more than $ 25 million( 53 %), businesses and utility companies will cover another $ 7 million( 15 %), and only 32 % of the project will come from residents, which means more than two-thirds of this investment is paid for

by others. Additionally, the cost to improve the facility in the future will only increase.

This proposal presents an opportunity to modernize educational facilities, enhance community services, and leverage significant state funding.

Information was provided by Mark Kowalski, Coshocton City Schools Superintendent, and Kelly Bratton, Darrell Lee, and Mark Kowalski from the Vote for Coshocton City Schools Committee.

Coshocton County Children Services levy( renewal)

A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Coshocton County for the purpose of the support of Children Services and the care, protection, and placement of abused, neglected and dependent children that the county auditor estimates will collect $ 472,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each $ 1 of taxable value, which amounts to $ 13 for each $ 100,000 of the county auditor’ s appraised value, for 5 years, commencing in 2025, first due in calendar year 2026.

When did this levy last appear on the ballot? Was it changed to a renewal for this election? In the fall, a replacement levy was pursued, but this time, voters are being asked to again pass the same tax they have supported for the last 30 years. The renewal levy is not a new tax and it will not increase your taxes— you will continue to pay the amount that you have paid since 1995. Specifically this means that you will pay $ 13 per year for every $ 100,000 of the appraised property value, but this is based off of 1995 property values and not the most recent values that have increased in the last evaluation. This means that you would pay approximately $ 1.08 per month to support children.

Why is it important for voters to say yes? This levy has been in place since

1995 and has been supported by the community for the last 30 years. By supporting this renewal levy again, our most vulnerable population that has had to endure trauma in some form, children, will continue to be served. These funds are used to cover costs that are associated with the placement of the children where they will get the best treatment and resources. This could be in a regular foster home, a group home or in a residential facility. By continuing to support this levy the community is making a commitment to these children and their pursuit of healing from the trauma they endured.

What are funds used for? This funding is critical to assist in the coverage of placement costs for the children currently in the agency’ s care, as 100 % of these funds are used for placement related expenses only and are not utilized for anything else. Some examples of the costs that are covered include, but are not limited to: room and board, clothes, beds, food, and a variety of other daily essentials. Think about all the expenses that you as a parent or guardian have to cover for your children, those are the same expenses the agency has to cover for the children in its care, currently that is around 76 children. Children services does receive state, federal, and local funds, many of which have restrictions and / or stipulations on how those funds can be spent. The agency has been very diligent to maximize all of these funds to cover these costs, then collaborate with various partners to reduce the remaining costs wherever appropriate. However, the growing costs and number of children in care still leaves a placement cost balance that would not be able to be covered without this levy.

Information was provided by Jed McCoy, director of Coshocton County Job and Family Services.

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