Perkins, Edison bond issues fail

SANDUSKY — Two Erie County school districts won't build new schools anytime soon. Voters rejected Edison and Perkins schools' bond issues for new construction on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Erie and Huron counties' elections boards. It's unclear what each district's next steps will be. Get the details below: Edison Schools With 1,415 'no' votes, about 84% of voters shot down the 6.7-mill, 37-year bond issue for an $87 million construction project, unofficial results from both counties' elections boards report. Had it been approved, the bond issue would have raised about $47 million in local money, toward the project's overall cost, to build two new schools and renovate Edison High School. Revenue from the Nexus pipeline would have paid for the remaining amount, officials said. Additionally, if the bond issue were approved, property taxes for the owner of a $100,000 home would have increased by about $235 a year, according to officials. "We understand this is just the start of the process," said superintendent Corey Ream and treasurer Stephanie Hanna in a joint statement. "As we move forward, the district will need to be very thoughtful in both the timing and configuration of future ballot issues. "Passing bonds for new schools is usually a marathon, not a sprint," they said. "With two schools in the district well over 100 years old, the need is not going to go away." Edison Schools bond issue For: 301 Against: 1,415 Source: Unofficial results Perkins Schools About 62% of voters rejected Perkins' 6.7-mill, 37-year bond issue for a $76 million construction project, unofficial results from the Erie County Board of Elections state. If it were approved by voters, the bond issue would have funded the construction of a new building for grades 6-12 and be repaid at a 5% interest rate during the 37-year period. With approval, the bond issue would have increased property taxes for the owner of a $100,000 home by about $237 a year, district officials said. Additionally, had the bond issue been approved, the design process would likely take about a year followed by roughly two years of construction. The Class of 2027 — this fall's incoming high school freshmen — would have been the first class to graduate from the new 6-12 building, facilities committee members said. Perkins Schools superintendent Todd Boggs didn't specifically comment on the bond issue's failure, but explained that the process leading up to the May ballot issue took three years and involved several community members and their input. "Throughout this process, we have had numerous parents and guardians, business leaders and community members, as well as many Perkins Schools staff and faculty members, advocating for the need to update and upgrade our school facilities," he said. "They worked hard, spending long evenings touring buildings and facilities, discussing the needs of the district, and coming up with a plan that made sense to the community and Perkins Local Schools." Perkins Schools bond issue For: 979 Against: 1,571 Source: Unofficial results _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood