As Introduced 136th General Assembly Regular Session H. B. No. 28 2025-2026 Representatives Mathews, A., Hall, T. Cosponsors: Representatives Williams, Gross, Fischer, Johnson, Teska, King, Thomas, D., Dean, John, Workman A B I LL To amend sections 319.301, 319.302, 523.06, 1545.21, 3316.041, 3316.06, 3358.11, 3505.06, 5705.03, 5705.218, 5705.2111, 5705.221, 5705.233, 5705.261, and 5705.412 and to repeal section 5705.192 of the Revised Code to eliminate the authority to levy replacement property tax levies. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: Section 1. That sections 319.301, 319.302, 523.06, 1545.21, 3316.041, 3316.06, 3358.11, 3505.06, 5705.03, 5705.218, 5705.2111, 5705.221, 5705.233, 5705.261, and 5705.412 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows: Sec. 319.301. (A) The reductions required by division (D) of this section do not apply to any of the following: (1) Taxes levied at whatever rate is required to produce a specified amount of tax money, including a tax levied under section 5705.199 or 5748.09 of the Revised Code, or an amount to pay debt charges; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 H. B. No. 28 Page 2 As Introduced (2) Taxes levied within the one per cent limitation imposed by Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution; (3) Taxes provided for by the charter of a municipal corporation. (B) As used in this section: (1) "Real property" includes real property owned by a railroad. (2) "Carryover property" means all real property on the current year's tax list except: (a) Land and improvements that were not taxed by the district in both the preceding year and the current year; (b) Land and improvements that were not in the same class in both the preceding year and the current year. (3) "Effective tax rate" means with respect to each class of property: (a) The sum of the total taxes that would have been charged and payable for current expenses against real property in that class if each of the district's taxes were reduced for the current year under division (D)(1) of this section without regard to the application of division (E)(3) of this section divided by (b) The taxable value of all real property in that class. (4) "Taxes charged and payable" means the taxes charged and payable prior to any reduction required by section 319.302 of the Revised Code. (C) The tax commissioner shall make the determinations required by this section each year, without regard to whether a 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 H. B. No. 28 Page 3 As Introduced taxing district has territory in a county to which section 5715.24 of the Revised Code applies for that year. Separate determinations shall be made for each of the two classes established pursuant to section 5713.041 of the Revised Code. (D) With respect to each tax authorized to be levied by each taxing district, the tax commissioner, annually, shall do both of the following: (1) Determine by what percentage, if any, the sums levied by such tax against the carryover property in each class would have to be reduced for the tax to levy the same number of dollars against such property in that class in the current year as were charged against such property by such tax in the preceding year subsequent to the reduction made under this section but before the reduction made under section 319.302 of the Revised Code. In the case of a tax levied for the first time that is not a renewal of an existing tax, the commissioner shall determine by what percentage the sums that would otherwise be levied by such tax against carryover property in each class would have to be reduced to equal the amount that would have been levied if the full rate thereof had been imposed against the total taxable value of such property in the preceding tax year. A tax or portion of a tax that is designated a replacement levy under section 5705.192 of the Revised Code is not a renewal of an existing tax for purposes of this division. (2) Certify each percentage determined in division (D)(1) of this section, as adjusted under division (E) of this section, and the class of property to which that percentage applies to the auditor of each county in which the district has territory. The auditor, after complying with section 319.30 of the Revised Code, shall reduce the sum to be levied by such tax against each 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 H. B. No. 28 Page 4 As Introduced parcel of real property in the district by the percentage so certified for its class. Certification shall be made by the first day of September except in the case of a tax levied for the first time, in which case certification shall be made within fifteen days of the date the county auditor submits the information necessary to make the required determination. (E)(1) As used in division (E)(2) of this section, "pre- 1982 joint vocational taxes" means, with respect to a class of property, the difference between the following amounts: (a) The taxes charged and payable in tax year 1981 against the property in that class for the current expenses of the joint vocational school district of which the school district is a part after making all reductions under this section; (b) Two-tenths of one per cent of the taxable value of all real property in that class. If the amount in division (E)(1)(b) of this section exceeds the amount in division (E)(1)(a) of this section, the pre-1982 joint vocational taxes shall be zero. As used in divisions (E)(2) and (3) of this section, "taxes charged and payable" has the same meaning as in division (B)(4) of this section and excludes any tax charged and payable in 1985 or thereafter under sections 5705.194 to 5705.197 or section 5705.199, 5705.213, 5705.219, or 5748.09 of the Revised Code. (2) If in the case of a school district other than a joint vocational or cooperative education school district any percentage required to be used in division (D)(2) of this section for either class of property could cause the total taxes charged and payable for current expenses to be less than two per 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 H. B. No. 28 Page 5 As Introduced cent of the taxable value of all real property in that class that is subject to taxation by the district, the commissioner shall determine what percentages would cause the district's total taxes charged and payable for current expenses against that class, after all reductions that would otherwise be made under this section, to equal, when combined with the pre-1982 joint vocational taxes against that class, the lesser of the following: (a) The sum of the rates at which those taxes are authorized to be levied; (b) Two per cent of the taxable value of the property in that class. The auditor shall use such percentages in making the reduction required by this section for that class. (3) If in the case of a joint vocational school district any percentage required to be used in division (D)(2) of this section for either class of property could cause the total taxes charged and payable for current expenses for that class to be less than two-tenths of one per cent of the taxable value of that class, the commissioner shall determine what percentages would cause the district's total taxes charged and payable for current expenses for that class, after all reductions that would otherwise be made under this section, to equal that amount. The auditor shall use such percentages in making the reductions required by this section for that class. (F) No reduction shall be made under this section in the rate at which any tax is levied. (G) The commissioner may order a county auditor to furnish any information the commissioner needs to make the determinations required under division (D) or (E) of this 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 H. B. No. 28 Page 6 As Introduced section, and the auditor shall supply the information in the form and by the date specified in the order. If the auditor fails to comply with an order issued under this division, except for good cause as determined by the commissioner, the commissioner shall withhold from such county or taxing district therein fifty per cent of state revenues to local governments pursuant to section 5747.50 of the Revised Code or shall direct the department of education and workforce to withhold therefrom fifty per cent of state revenues to school districts pursuant to Chapter 3317. of the Revised Code. The commissioner shall withhold the distribution of such revenues until the county auditor has complied with this division, and the department shall withhold the distribution of such revenues until the commissioner has notified the department that the county auditor has complied with this division. (H) If the commissioner is unable to certify a tax reduction factor for either class of property in a taxing district located in more than one county by the last day of November because information required under division (G) of this section is unavailable, the commissioner may compute and certify an estimated tax reduction factor for that district for that class. The estimated factor shall be based upon an estimate of the unavailable information. Upon receipt of the actual information for a taxing district that received an estimated tax reduction factor, the commissioner shall compute the actual tax reduction factor and use that factor to compute the taxes that should have been charged and payable against each parcel of property for the year for which the estimated reduction factor was used. The amount by which the estimated factor resulted in an overpayment or underpayment in taxes on any parcel shall be added to or subtracted from the amount due on that parcel in the 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 H. B. No. 28 Page 7 As Introduced ensuing tax year. A percentage or a tax reduction factor determined or computed by the commissioner under this section shall be used solely for the purpose of reducing the sums to be levied by the tax to which it applies for the year for which it was determined or computed. It shall not be used in making any tax computations for any ensuing tax year. (I) In making the determinations under division (D)(1) of this section, the tax commissioner shall take account of changes in the taxable value of carryover property resulting from complaints filed under section 5715.19 of the Revised Code for determinations made for the tax year in which such changes are reported to the commissioner. Such changes shall be reported to the commissioner on the first abstract of real property filed with the commissioner under section 5715.23 of the Revised Code following the date on which the complaint is finally determined by the board of revision or by a court or other authority with jurisdiction on appeal. The tax commissioner shall account for such changes in making the determinations only for the tax year in which the change in valuation is reported. Such a valuation change shall not be used to recompute the percentages determined under division (D)(1) of this section for any prior tax year. Sec. 319.302. (A)(1) Real property that is not intended primarily for use in a business activity shall qualify for a partial exemption from real property taxation. For purposes of this partial exemption, "business activity" includes all uses of real property, except farming; leasing property for farming; occupying or holding property improved with single-family, two- family, or three-family dwellings; leasing property improved with single-family, two-family, or three-family dwellings; or 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 H. B. No. 28 Page 8 As Introduced holding vacant land that the county auditor determines will be used for farming or to develop single-family, two-family, or three-family dwellings. For purposes of this partial exemption, "farming" does not include land used for the commercial production of timber that is receiving the tax benefit under section 5713.23 or 5713.31 of the Revised Code and all improvements connected with such commercial production of timber. (2) Each year, the county auditor shall review each parcel of real property to determine whether it qualifies for the partial exemption provided for by this section as of the first day of January of the current tax year. (B) After complying with section 319.301 of the Revised Code, the county auditor shall reduce the remaining sums to be levied by qualifying levies against each parcel of real property that is listed on the general tax list and duplicate of real and public utility property for the current tax year and that qualifies for partial exemption under division (A) of this section, and against each manufactured and mobile home that is taxed pursuant to division (D)(2) of section 4503.06 of the Revised Code and that is on the manufactured home tax list for the current tax year, by ten per cent, to provide a partial exemption for that parcel or home. For the purposes of this division: (1) "Qualifying levy" means a levy approved at an election held before September 29, 2013; a levy within the ten-mill limitation; a levy provided for by the charter of a municipal corporation that was levied on the tax list for tax year 2013; a subsequent renewal of any such levy; or a subsequent substitute for such a levy under section 5705.199 of the Revised Code. 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 H. B. No. 28 Page 9 As Introduced (2) "Qualifying levy" does not include any replacement imposed under section 5705.192 of the Revised Code , as it existed before the effective date of this amendment, of any levy described in division (B)(1) of this section. (C) Except as otherwise provided in sections 323.152, 323.158, 323.16, 505.06, and 715.263 of the Revised Code, the amount of the taxes remaining after any such reduction shall be the real and public utility property taxes charged and payable on each parcel of real property, including property that does not qualify for partial exemption under division (A) of this section, and the manufactured home tax charged and payable on each manufactured or mobile home, and shall be the amounts certified to the county treasurer for collection. Upon receipt of the real and public utility property tax duplicate, the treasurer shall certify to the tax commissioner the total amount by which the real property taxes were reduced under this section, as shown on the duplicate. Such reduction shall not directly or indirectly affect the determination of the principal amount of notes that may be issued in anticipation of any tax levies or the amount of bonds or notes for any planned improvements. If after application of sections 5705.31 and 5705.32 of the Revised Code and other applicable provisions of law, including divisions (F) and (I) of section 321.24 of the Revised Code, there would be insufficient funds for payment of debt charges on bonds or notes payable from taxes reduced by this section, the reduction of taxes provided for in this section shall be adjusted to the extent necessary to provide funds from such taxes. (D) The tax commissioner may adopt rules governing the administration of the partial exemption provided for by this section. 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 H. B. No. 28 Page 10 As Introduced (E) The determination of whether property qualifies for partial exemption under division (A) of this section is solely for the purpose of allowing the partial exemption under division (B) of this section. Sec. 523.06. If a merger agreement is entered into as required by section 523.04 of the Revised Code, this section does not apply. If a merger agreement is not entered into under section 523.04 of the Revised Code, the merger agreement shall contain all of the terms and conditions specified in this section. If a partial merger agreement is entered into under section 523.04 of the Revised Code, this section applies only to the extent any term or condition that is required by section 523.04 of the Revised Code to be addressed in the merger agreement is not addressed therein. The terms and conditions of a merger agreement to which this section applies shall be as follows: (A) All members of each board of township trustees shall serve as board members of the new township. At the first general election for township officers occurring not less than ninety days after a merger is approved, the electors of the new township shall elect three township trustees with staggered terms of office. The first terms of office following the election shall be modified to an even number of years not to exceed four to allow subsequent elections for the office to be held in the same year as other township officers. (B) The township fiscal officer of the largest township, by population, shall be the township fiscal officer for the new township. At the first general election for township officers occurring not less than ninety days after the merger, the electors shall elect a township fiscal officer, whose first term 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 H. B. No. 28 Page 11 As Introduced of office shall be modified to an even number of years not to exceed four to allow subsequent elections for that office to be held in the same year as other township fiscal officers. (C) Voted property tax levies shall remain in effect for the parcels of real property to which they applied prior to the merger, and the merger shall not affect the proceeds of a tax levy pledged for the retirement of any debt obligation. Upon expiration of a property tax levy, the levy may only be replaced or renewed by vote of the electors in the manner provided by law, to apply to real property within the boundaries of the new township. If the millage levied inside the ten-mill limitation of each township merged is different, the board of township trustees of the new township shall immediately equalize the millage for the entire new township. (D) For purposes of the retirement of all debt obligations of each township merged, the township fiscal officer shall continue to track parcels of real property and the tax revenue generated on those parcels by the tax districts that were in place prior to the merger, and shall provide that information on an annual basis to the board of township trustees of the new township. Debt obligations that existed at the time of the merger shall be retired from the revenue generated from the parcels of real property that made up the township that incurred the debt before the merger. (E)(1) With respect to any agreement entered into under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code that covers any of the employees of the townships merged under this chapter, the state employment relations board, within one hundred twenty days after the date the merger is approved, shall designate the appropriate bargaining units for the employees of the new township in 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 H. B. No. 28 Page 12 As Introduced accordance with section 4117.06 of the Revised Code. Notwithstanding the recognition procedures prescribed in section 4117.05 and division (A) of section 4117.07 of the Revised Code, the board shall conduct a representation election with respect to each bargaining unit designated under this division in accordance with divisions (B) and (C) of section 4117.07 of the Revised Code. If an exclusive representative is selected through this election, the exclusive representative shall negotiate and enter into an agreement with the new township in accordance with Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. Until the parties reach an agreement, any agreement in effect on the date of the merger shall apply to the employees that were in the bargaining unit that is covered by the agreement. An agreement in existence on the date of the merger is terminated on the effective date of an agreement negotiated under this division. (2) If an exclusive representative is not selected, any agreement in effect on the date of the merger shall apply to the employees that were in the bargaining unit that is covered by the agreement and shall expire on its terms. (3) Each agreement entered into under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code on or after the effective date of this section September 29, 2011, involving a new township shall contain a provision regarding the designation of an exclusive representative and bargaining units for the new township as described in division (E) of this section. (4) In addition to the laws listed in division (A) of section 4117.10 of the Revised Code that prevail over conflicting agreements between employee organizations and public employers, division (E) of this section prevails over any conflicting provisions of agreements between employee 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 H. B. No. 28 Page 13 As Introduced organizations and public employers that are entered into on or after the effective date of this section September 29, 2011, pursuant to Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. (5) As used in division (E) of this section, "employee organization" and "exclusive representative" have the same meanings as in section 4117.01 of the Revised Code. (F)(1) If the boundaries of the new township are not coextensive with a special purpose district, the new township shall remain in the existing special purpose district as a successor to the original township, unless the special purpose district is dissolved. The board of township trustees of the new township may place a question on the ballot at the next general election held after the merger to conform the boundaries, dissolve the special purpose district, or absorb the special purpose district into the new township on the terms specified in the resolution that places the question on the ballot for approval of the electors of the new township. (2) As used in division (F) of this section, "special purpose district" means any geographic or political jurisdiction that is created under law by a township merged. (G) Zoning codes that existed at the time of the merger shall remain in effect after the merger, and the townships that existed before the merger shall be treated as administrative districts within the new township for the purposes of zoning. Sec. 1545.21. (A) The board of park commissioners, by resolution, may submit to the electors of the park district the question of levying taxes for the use of the district. The resolution shall declare the necessity of levying such taxes, shall specify the purpose for which such taxes shall be used, 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 H. B. No. 28 Page 14 As Introduced the annual rate proposed, and the number of consecutive years the rate shall be levied. Such resolution shall be forthwith certified to the board of elections in each county in which any part of such district is located, not later than the ninetieth day before the day of the election, and the question of the levy of taxes as provided in such resolution shall be submitted to the electors of the district at a special election to be held on whichever of the following occurs first: (1) The day of the next general election; (2) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in May in any calendar year, except that if a presidential primary election is held in that calendar year, then the day of that election. A resolution to renew, renew and increase, or renew and decrease any existing levy shall not be placed on the ballot unless the question is submitted at the general election held during the last year the tax to be renewed may be extended on the tax list, or at any election described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section in the ensuing year. Such a resolution may specify that the renewal, increase, or decrease of the existing levy shall be extended on the tax list for the tax year specified in the resolution, which may be the last year the existing levy may be extended on the list for the ensuing year. If the renewal, increase, or decrease is to be extended on the tax list for the last tax year the existing levy would otherwise be extended, the existing levy shall not be extended on the tax list for that last year unless the question of the renewal, increase, or decrease is not approved by a majority of electors voting on the question, in which case the existing levy shall be extended on the tax list for that last year. Except as otherwise prescribed in division (B) of this 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 H. B. No. 28 Page 15 As Introduced section, the ballot shall set forth the purpose for which the taxes shall be levied, the levy's estimated annual collections, the annual rate of levy, expressed in mills for each dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, and the number of years of such levy. If the tax is to be placed on the current tax list, the form of the ballot shall state that the tax will be levied in the current tax year and shall indicate the first calendar year the tax will be due. (B)(1) (B) If the resolution of the board of park commissioners provides that an existing levy will be renewed, increased, or decreased upon the passage of the ballot question, the form of the ballot shall be the same as prescribed for such levies in divisions (B) and (C) of section 5705.25 of the Revised Code. (2) If the resolution of the board of park commissioners provides that an existing levy will be canceled upon the passage of the new levy, the board shall request that the county auditor, in addition to the information the auditor is required to certify under section 5705.03 of the Revised Code, certify the estimated effective rate of the existing levy. In such an instance, the ballot must include a statement that: "an existing levy of ___ mills (stating the original levy millage) for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $___ (estimated effective rate) for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, having ___ years remaining, will be canceled and replaced upon the passage of this levy." In such case, the ballot may refer to the new levy as a "replacement levy" if the new millage does not exceed the original millage of the levy being canceled or as a "replacement and additional levy" if the new millage exceeds the original millage of the levy being canceled. 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 H. B. No. 28 Page 16 As Introduced (C) If a majority of the electors voting upon the question of such levy vote in favor thereof, such taxes shall be levied and shall be in addition to the taxes authorized by section 1545.20 of the Revised Code, and all other taxes authorized by law. The rate submitted to the electors at any one time shall not exceed two mills annually upon each dollar of taxable value unless the purpose of the levy includes providing operating revenues for one of Ohio's major metropolitan zoos, as defined in section 4503.74 of the Revised Code, in which case the rate shall not exceed three mills annually upon each dollar of taxable value. When a tax levy has been authorized as provided in this section or in section 1545.041 of the Revised Code, the board of park commissioners may issue bonds pursuant to section 133.24 of the Revised Code in anticipation of the collection of such levy, provided that such bonds shall be issued only for the purpose of acquiring and improving lands. Such levy, when collected, shall be applied in payment of the bonds so issued and the interest thereon. The amount of bonds so issued and outstanding at any time shall not exceed one per cent of the total taxable value in such district. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the rate determined as provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code. (D) As used in this section, "the county auditor's appraised value" and "estimated effective rate" have the same meanings as in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code. Sec. 3316.041. (A) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 133. or sections 3313.483 to 3313.4810 of the Revised Code, and subject to the approval of the director of education and workforce, a school district that is in a state of fiscal watch declared under section 3316.03 of the Revised Code may restructure or refinance loans obtained or in the process of 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 H. B. No. 28 Page 17 As Introduced being obtained under section 3313.483 of the Revised Code if all of the following requirements are met: (1) The operating deficit certified for the school district for the current or preceding fiscal year under section 3313.483 of the Revised Code exceeds fifteen per cent of the district's general revenue fund for the fiscal year preceding the year for which the certification of the operating deficit is made. (2) The school district voters have, during the period of the fiscal watch, approved the levy of a tax under section 718.09, 718.10, 5705.194, 5705.21, 5748.02, or 5748.09 of the Revised Code that is not a renewal or replacement levy, or a levy under section 5705.199 of the Revised Code, and that will provide new operating revenue. (3) The board of education of the school district has adopted or amended the financial plan required by section 3316.04 of the Revised Code to reflect the restructured or refinanced loans, and sets forth the means by which the district will bring projected operating revenues and expenditures, and projected debt service obligations, into balance for the life of any such loan. (B) Subject to the approval of the director, the school district may issue securities to evidence the restructuring or refinancing authorized by this section. Such securities may extend the original period for repayment not to exceed ten years, and may alter the frequency and amount of repayments, interest or other financing charges, and other terms or agreements under which the loans were originally contracted, provided the loans received under sections 3313.483 of the Revised Code are repaid from funds the district would otherwise 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 H. B. No. 28 Page 18 As Introduced receive under Chapter 3317. of the Revised Code, as required under division (E)(3) of section 3313.483 of the Revised Code. Securities issued for the purpose of restructuring or refinancing under this section shall be repaid in equal payments and at equal intervals over the term of the debt and are not eligible to be included in any subsequent proposal to restructure or refinance. (C) Unless the district is declared to be in a state of fiscal emergency under division (D) of section 3316.04 of the Revised Code, a school district shall remain in a state of fiscal watch for the duration of the repayment period of any loan restructured or refinanced under this section. Sec. 3316.06. (A) Within one hundred twenty days after the first meeting of a school district financial planning and supervision commission, the commission shall adopt a financial recovery plan regarding the school district for which the commission was created. During the formulation of the plan, the commission shall seek appropriate input from the school district board and from the community. This plan shall contain the following: (1) Actions to be taken to: (a) Eliminate all fiscal emergency conditions declared to exist pursuant to division (B) of section 3316.03 of the Revised Code; (b) Satisfy any judgments, past-due accounts payable, and all past-due and payable payroll and fringe benefits; (c) Eliminate the deficits in all deficit funds, except that any prior year deficits in the capital and maintenance fund established pursuant to section 3315.18 of the Revised Code 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 H. B. No. 28 Page 19 As Introduced shall be forgiven; (d) Restore to special funds any moneys from such funds that were used for purposes not within the purposes of such funds, or borrowed from such funds by the purchase of debt obligations of the school district with the moneys of such funds, or missing from the special funds and not accounted for, if any; (e) Balance the budget, avoid future deficits in any funds, and maintain on a current basis payments of payroll, fringe benefits, and all accounts; (f) Avoid any fiscal emergency condition in the future; (g) Restore the ability of the school district to market long-term general obligation bonds under provisions of law applicable to school districts generally. (2) The management structure that will enable the school district to take the actions enumerated in division (A)(1) of this section. The plan shall specify the level of fiscal and management control that the commission will exercise within the school district during the period of fiscal emergency, and shall enumerate respectively, the powers and duties of the commission and the powers and duties of the school board during that period. The commission may elect to assume any of the powers and duties of the school board it considers necessary, including all powers related to personnel, curriculum, and legal issues in order to successfully implement the actions described in division (A)(1) of this section. (3) The target dates for the commencement, progress upon, and completion of the actions enumerated in division (A)(1) of this section and a reasonable period of time expected to be 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 H. B. No. 28 Page 20 As Introduced required to implement the plan. The commission shall prepare a reasonable time schedule for progress toward and achievement of the requirements for the plan, and the plan shall be consistent with that time schedule. (4) The amount and purpose of any issue of debt obligations that will be issued, together with assurances that any such debt obligations that will be issued will not exceed debt limits supported by appropriate certifications by the fiscal officer of the school district and the county auditor. If the commission considers it necessary in order to maintain or improve educational opportunities of pupils in the school district, the plan may include a proposal to restructure or refinance outstanding debt obligations incurred by the board under section 3313.483 of the Revised Code contingent upon the approval, during the period of the fiscal emergency, by district voters of a tax levied under section 718.09, 718.10, 5705.194, 5705.21, 5748.02, 5748.08, or 5748.09 of the Revised Code that is not a renewal or replacement levy, or a levy under section 5705.199 of the Revised Code, and that will provide new operating revenue. Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 133. or sections 3313.483 to 3313.4810 of the Revised Code, following the required approval of the district voters and with the approval of the commission, the school district may issue securities to evidence the restructuring or refinancing. Those securities may extend the original period for repayment, not to exceed ten years, and may alter the frequency and amount of repayments, interest or other financing charges, and other terms of agreements under which the debt originally was contracted, at the discretion of the commission, provided that any loans received pursuant to section 3313.483 of the Revised Code shall be paid from funds the district would otherwise receive under 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 H. B. No. 28 Page 21 As Introduced Chapter 3317. of the Revised Code, as required under division (E)(3) of section 3313.483 of the Revised Code. The securities issued for the purpose of restructuring or refinancing the debt shall be repaid in equal payments and at equal intervals over the term of the debt and are not eligible to be included in any subsequent proposal for the purpose of restructuring or refinancing debt under this section. (5) An evaluation of the feasibility of entering into shared services agreements with other political subdivisions for the joint exercise of any power, performance of any function, or rendering of any service, if so authorized by statute. (B) Any financial recovery plan may be amended subsequent to its adoption. Each financial recovery plan shall be updated annually. (C) Each school district financial planning and supervision commission shall submit the financial recovery plan it adopts or updates under this section to the director of education and workforce for approval immediately following its adoption or updating. The director shall evaluate the plan and either approve or disapprove it within thirty calendar days from the date of its submission. If the plan is disapproved, the director shall recommend modifications that will render it acceptable. No financial planning and supervision commission shall implement a financial recovery plan that is adopted or updated on or after April 10, 2001, unless the director has approved it. Sec. 3358.11. (A) In the same manner as a tax may be proposed by a board of trustees of a community college district under section 3354.12 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of a state community college district may adopt and certify a 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 H. B. No. 28 Page 22 As Introduced resolution to the board of elections of one or more of the counties comprising the state community college district directing the board of elections to place on the ballot at any general or special election the question of levying a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation on all the taxable property in that county or those counties. The tax may be for any of the following purposes, as stated in the resolution: (1) The acquisition of sites in that county or those counties; (2) The erection, furnishing, and equipment of buildings in that county or those counties; (3) The acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property in that county or those counties which the board of trustees of a state community college is authorized to acquire, construct, or improve and which has an estimated life or usefulness of five years or more as certified by the treasurer of the board of trustees. The resolution shall declare that the proceeds of the levy or issue may be used solely within the county or counties in which the tax is levied and state the term of the tax, which may be for any term authorized for a tax levied under section 3354.12 of the Revised Code. The question of such a tax may not be submitted at more than two special elections held in any one calendar year. Levies for a continuing period of time adopted under this section may be reduced in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code. The election shall be held, canvassed, and certified in the manner provided for the submission of a tax levy under section 3354.12 of the Revised Code. A tax levied under this 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 H. B. No. 28 Page 23 As Introduced section may be renewed in the same manner as a tax levied under section 3354.12 of the Revised Code or replaced in accordance with section 5705.192 of the Revised Code . If electors approve the levy, the board of trustees may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and may, from time to time, issue anticipation notes in the same manner and subject to the same limitations provided under section 3354.12 of the Revised Code. (B) In accordance with Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of a state community college district may adopt and certify a resolution to the board of elections of one or more of the counties comprising the district directing the board of elections to place on the ballot at any election authorized under section 133.18 of the Revised Code both of the following questions: (1) The question of issuing bonds for paying all or part of the cost of the following: (a) The purchase of sites in that county or those counties; (b) The erection, furnishings, and equipment of buildings in that county or those counties; (c) The acquisition or construction of any property in that county or those counties which the board of trustees is authorized to acquire or construct and which has an estimated life or usefulness of five years or more as certified by the treasurer of the board of trustees. (2) The question of levying a tax in excess of the ten- mill limitation on all the taxable property in that county or those counties to pay the interest on and retire any bonds 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 H. B. No. 28 Page 24 As Introduced approved by the electors under division (B)(1) of this section. The election shall be held, canvassed, and certified in the manner provided for the submission of a bond issuance and tax levy under section 3354.11 of the Revised Code. Bonds approved by electors under division (B)(1) of this section may be issued for one or more improvements which the district is authorized to acquire or construct, notwithstanding the fact that such improvements may not be for more than one purpose under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. Notes may be issued in anticipation of any bonds that may be approved by the electors under division (B)(1) of this section in the manner provided under section 133.22 of the Revised Code. For the purpose of applying Chapter 133. of the Revised Code to division (B) of this section, the treasurer of the state community college district shall be considered to be the district's fiscal officer, and the board of trustees of the state community college district shall be considered to be the taxing authority. (C) The board of trustees of a state community college district that levies a tax or proposes to levy a tax under division (A) or (B) of this section shall be considered to be a taxing authority, the county or counties in which the tax is levied shall be considered to be a subdivision, and the treasurer of the board of trustees shall be considered to be a fiscal officer for the purposes of Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code, except for section 5705.19 of the Revised Code. Sec. 3505.06. (A) On the questions and issues ballot shall be printed all questions and issues to be submitted at any one 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 H. B. No. 28 Page 25 As Introduced election together with the percentage of affirmative votes necessary for passage as required by law. Such ballot shall have printed across the top thereof, and below the stubs, "Official Questions and Issues Ballot." (B)(1) Questions and issues shall be grouped together on the ballot from top to bottom as provided in division (B)(1) of this section, except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section. State questions and issues shall always appear as the top group of questions and issues. In calendar year 1997, the following questions and issues shall be grouped together on the ballot, in the following order from top to bottom, after the state questions and issues: (a) County questions and issues; (b) Municipal questions and issues; (c) Township questions and issues; (d) School or other district questions and issues. In each succeeding calendar year after 1997, each group of questions and issues described in division (B)(1)(a) to (d) of this section shall be moved down one place on the ballot except that the group that was last on the ballot during the immediately preceding calendar year shall appear at the top of the ballot after the state questions and issues. The rotation shall be performed only once each calendar year, beginning with the first election held during the calendar year. The rotation of groups of questions and issues shall be performed during each calendar year as required by division (B)(1) of this section, even if no questions and issues from any one or more such groups appear on the ballot at any particular election held during that calendar year. 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 H. B. No. 28 Page 26 As Introduced (2) Questions and issues shall be grouped together on the ballot, from top to bottom, in the following order when it is not practicable to group them together as required by division (B)(1) of this section because of the type of voting machines used by the board of elections: state questions and issues, county questions and issues, municipal questions and issues, township questions and issues, and school or other district questions and issues. The particular order in which each of a group of state questions or issues is placed on the ballot shall be determined by, and certified to each board of elections by, the secretary of state. (3) Failure of the board of elections to rotate questions and issues as required by division (B)(1) of this section does not affect the validity of the election at which the failure occurred, and is not grounds for contesting an election under section 3515.08 of the Revised Code. (C) The particular order in which each of a group of county, municipal, township, or school district questions or issues is placed on the ballot shall be determined by the board providing the ballots. (D) The printed matter pertaining to each question or issue on the ballot shall be enclosed at the top and bottom thereof by a heavy horizontal line across the width of the ballot. Immediately below such top line shall be printed a brief title descriptive of the question or issue below it, such as "Proposed Constitutional Amendment," "Proposed Bond Issue," "Proposed Annexation of Territory," "Proposed Increase in Tax Rate," or such other brief title as will be descriptive of the question or issue to which it pertains, together with a brief statement of the percentage of affirmative votes necessary for 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 H. B. No. 28 Page 27 As Introduced passage, such as "A sixty-five per cent affirmative vote is necessary for passage," "A majority vote is necessary for passage," or such other brief statement as will be descriptive of the percentage of affirmative votes required. (E) The questions and issues ballot need not contain the full text of the proposal to be voted upon. A condensed text that will properly describe the question, issue, or an amendment proposed by other than the general assembly shall be used as prepared and certified by the secretary of state for state-wide questions or issues or by the board for local questions or issues. If other than a full text is used, the full text of the proposed question, issue, or amendment together with the percentage of affirmative votes necessary for passage as required by law shall be posted in each polling place in some spot that is easily accessible to the voters. (F)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(2) of this section, each question and issue appearing on the questions and issues ballot may be consecutively numbered. The question or issue determined to appear at the top of the ballot may be designated on the face thereof by the Arabic numeral "1" and all questions and issues placed below on the ballot shall be consecutively numbered. Such numeral shall be placed below the heavy top horizontal line enclosing such question or issue and to the left of the brief title thereof. (2) Beginning with the general election to be held on November 5, 2024, a state question or issue determined to appear at the top of the ballot shall be designated on the face thereof by the Arabic numeral "1" and all state questions and issues placed below on the ballot shall be consecutively numbered. For elections occurring after the general election held on November 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 H. B. No. 28 Page 28 As Introduced 5, 2024, a state question or issue determined to appear at the top of the ballot shall be designated on the face thereof by the Arabic numeral that is consecutive to the Arabic numeral of the last state question or issue that appeared on the ballot at the immediately preceding election at which a state question or issue appeared on the ballot and all state questions or issues placed below on the ballot shall be consecutively numbered. Such numeral shall be placed below the heavy top horizontal line enclosing such question or issue and to the left of the brief title thereof. Once a state question or issue appears on the ballot designated by the Arabic numeral "500," the state question or issue appearing at the top of the ballot at the immediately following election at which a state question or issue appears on the ballot shall be designated by the Arabic numeral "1." (G) No portion of a ballot question proposing to levy a property tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation under any section of the Revised Code, including the renewal or replacement of such a levy, may be printed in boldface type or in a font size that is different from the font size of other text in the ballot question. The prohibitions in division (G) of this section do not apply to printed matter either described in division (D) of this section related to such a ballot question or located in the area of the ballot in which votes are indicated for or against that question. Sec. 5705.03. (A) The taxing authority of each subdivision may levy taxes annually, subject to the limitations of sections 5705.01 to 5705.47 of the Revised Code, on the real and personal property within the subdivision for the purpose of paying the current operating expenses of the subdivision and acquiring or constructing permanent improvements. The taxing authority of 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 H. B. No. 28 Page 29 As Introduced each subdivision and taxing unit shall, subject to the limitations of such sections, levy such taxes annually as are necessary to pay the interest and sinking fund on and retire at maturity the bonds, notes, and certificates of indebtedness of such subdivision and taxing unit, including levies in anticipation of which the subdivision or taxing unit has incurred indebtedness. (B)(1) When a taxing authority determines that it is necessary to levy a tax outside the ten-mill limitation for any purpose authorized by the Revised Code, the taxing authority shall certify to the county auditor a resolution or ordinance requesting that the county auditor certify to the taxing authority the amounts described in division (B)(2) of this section. The resolution or ordinance shall state all of the following: (a) The proposed rate of the tax, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value, or the dollar amount of revenue to be generated by the proposed tax; (b) The purpose of the tax; (c) Whether the tax is an additional levy, a renewal or a replacement of an existing tax, a renewal or replacement of an existing tax with an increase or a decrease, a reduction or decrease of an existing tax, or an extension of an existing tax to additional territory; (d) The section of the Revised Code authorizing submission of the question of the tax; (e) The term of years of the tax or if the tax is for a continuing period of time; (f) That the tax is to be levied upon the entire territory 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 H. B. No. 28 Page 30 As Introduced of the subdivision or, if authorized by the Revised Code, a description of the portion of the territory of the subdivision in which the tax is to be levied; (g) The date of the election at which the question of the tax shall appear on the ballot; (h) That the ballot measure shall be submitted to the entire territory of the subdivision or, if authorized by the Revised Code, a description of the portion of the territory of the subdivision to which the ballot measure shall be submitted; (i) The tax year in which the tax will first be levied and the calendar year in which the tax will first be collected; (j) Each such county in which the subdivision has territory. (2) Upon receipt of a resolution or ordinance certified under division (B)(1) of this section, the county auditor shall certify to the taxing authority each of the following, as applicable to that levy: (a) The total current tax valuation of the subdivision. (b) The number of mills for each one dollar of taxable value that is required to generate a specified amount of revenue. (c) Either of the following, calculated using the tax list for the current year, and if this is not determined, the estimated amount submitted by the auditor to the county budget commission: (i) If the levy is to renew, renew and increase, renew and decrease, reduce or decrease, or extend to additional territory an existing levy that is subject to reduction under section 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 H. B. No. 28 Page 31 As Introduced 319.301 of the Revised Code, the levy's estimated effective rate, calculated using the rate described in division (B)(2)(b) or (d) of this section, expressed in dollars, rounded to the nearest dollar, for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value; (ii) For all other levies, the levy's rate, described in division (B)(2)(b) or (d) of this section, expressed in dollars, rounded to the nearest dollar, for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value. (d) The dollar amount of revenue, rounded to the nearest dollar, that would be generated by a specified number of mills for each one dollar of taxable value. (e) For any levy or portion of a levy except a levy or portion of a levy to pay debt charges, an estimate of the levy's annual collections, rounded to the nearest one thousand dollars, which shall be calculated assuming that the amount of the tax list of the taxing authority remains throughout the life of the levy the same as the amount of the tax list for the current year, and if this is not determined, the estimated amount submitted by the auditor to the county budget commission. If a subdivision is located in more than one county, the county auditor shall obtain from the county auditor of each other county in which the subdivision is located the current tax valuation for the portion of the subdivision in that county. The county auditor shall issue the certification to the taxing authority within ten days after receiving the taxing authority's resolution or ordinance requesting it. (3) Upon receiving the certification from the county auditor under division (B)(2) of this section, the taxing 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 H. B. No. 28 Page 32 As Introduced authority may adopt a resolution or ordinance stating the rate of the tax levy, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and the rate or estimated effective rate, as applicable, in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, as estimated by the county auditor, and that the taxing authority will proceed with the submission of the question of the tax to electors. The taxing authority shall certify this resolution or ordinance, a copy of the county auditor's certifications, and the resolution or ordinance the taxing authority adopted under division (B)(1) of this section to the proper county board of elections in the manner and within the time prescribed by the section of the Revised Code governing submission of the question. The county board of elections shall not submit the question of the tax to electors unless a copy of the county auditor's certification accompanies the resolutions or ordinances the taxing authority certifies to the board. Before requesting a taxing authority to submit a tax levy, any agency or authority authorized to make that request shall first request the certification from the county auditor provided under this section. (4) This division is supplemental to, and not in derogation of, any similar requirement governing the certification by the county auditor of the tax valuation of a subdivision or necessary tax rates for the purposes of the submission of the question of a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation, including sections 133.18 and 5705.195 of the Revised Code. (C) All taxes levied on property shall be extended on the tax list and duplicate by the county auditor of the county in which the property is located, and shall be collected by the county treasurer of such county in the same manner and under the 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 H. B. No. 28 Page 33 As Introduced same laws and rules as are prescribed for the assessment and collection of county taxes. The proceeds of any tax levied by or for any subdivision when received by its fiscal officer shall be deposited in its treasury to the credit of the appropriate fund. Sec. 5705.218. (A) The board of education of a city, local, or exempted village school district, at any time by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it may be necessary for the school district to issue general obligation bonds for permanent improvements. The resolution shall state all of the following: (1) The necessity and purpose of the bond issue; (2) The date of the special election at which the question shall be submitted to the electors; (3) The amount, approximate date, estimated rate of interest, and maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid; (4) The necessity of levying a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities. On adoption of the resolution, the board shall certify a copy of it to the county auditor. The county auditor promptly shall estimate and certify to the board the average annual property tax rate, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds in the same manner as under division (C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code. (B) After receiving the county auditor's certification 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 H. B. No. 28 Page 34 As Introduced under division (A) of this section, the board of education of the city, local, or exempted village school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future requirements of the school district; that it is necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the school district for permanent improvements and to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities; that it is necessary for a specified number of years or for a continuing period of time to levy additional taxes in excess of the ten- mill limitation to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing of permanent improvements or to pay for current operating expenses, or both; and that the question of the bonds and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election, which shall not be earlier than ninety days after certification of the resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify all of the following: (1) The county auditor's estimate of the average annual property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds; (2) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for current operating expenses expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, the first year the tax will be levied, and the number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 H. B. No. 28 Page 35 As Introduced time; (3) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for permanent improvements expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, the first year the tax will be levied, and the number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time. The resolution shall apportion the annual rate of the tax between current operating expenses and permanent improvements, if both taxes are proposed. The apportionment may but need not be the same for each year of the tax, but the respective portions of the rate actually levied each year for current operating expenses and permanent improvements shall be limited by the apportionment. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of it is necessary other than that provided in the notice of election. The board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution, along with copies of the auditor's estimates and its resolution under division (A) of this section, to the board of elections immediately after its adoption. (C) The board of elections shall make the arrangements for the submission to the electors of the school district of the question proposed under division (B) or (J) of this section, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the district for the election of county officers. The resolution shall be put before the electors as one ballot question, with a favorable vote indicating approval of the bond issue, the levy to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities, the current operating expenses levy, the permanent improvements 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 H. B. No. 28 Page 36 As Introduced levy, and the levy for the current expenses of a qualifying school district and of partnering community schools, as those levies may be proposed. The board of elections shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district once a week for two consecutive weeks, or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, prior to the election. If a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, that board also shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice of election shall state all of the following: (1) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue; (2) The permanent improvements for which the bonds are to be issued; (3) The maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid; (4) The estimated additional average annual property tax rate to pay the debt charges on the bonds, as certified by the county auditor and expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value; (5) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for current operating expenses expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value and, if the question is proposed under division (J) of this section, the portion of the rate to be allocated to the school district and the portion to be allocated to partnering community schools; (6) The number of years the current operating expenses tax will be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 H. B. No. 28 Page 37 As Introduced period of time; (7) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for permanent improvements expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value; (8) The number of years the permanent improvements tax will be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing period of time; (9) The annual estimated collections, if applicable, of the current operating expenses levy and permanent improvements levy, as certified by the county auditor; (10) The time and place of the special election. (D) The form of the ballot for an election under this section is as follows: "Shall the __________ school district be authorized to do the following: (1) Issue bonds for the purpose of __________ in the principal amount of $______, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of ______ years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period ______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $______ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?" If either a levy for permanent improvements or a levy for current operating expenses is proposed, or both are proposed, the ballot also shall contain the following language, as 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 H. B. No. 28 Page 38 As Introduced appropriate: "(2) Levy an additional property tax to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing of permanent improvements, that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually, at a rate not exceeding _______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $_______ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for ______ (number of years of the levy, or a continuing period of time)? (3) Levy an additional property tax to pay current operating expenses, that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually, at a rate not exceeding _______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $_______ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for _______ (number of years of the levy, or a continuing period of time)? FOR THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES) AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES) " If the question is proposed under division (J) of this section, the form of the ballot shall be modified as prescribed by division (J)(4) of this section. (E) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor of the county in which the school district is located. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote for it, the board of education may proceed with issuance of the bonds and with the levy and collection of the property tax or taxes at the additional rate or any lesser rate in excess of the 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 H. B. No. 28 Page 39 As Introduced ten-mill limitation. Any securities issued by the board of education under this section are Chapter 133. securities, as that term is defined in section 133.01 of the Revised Code. (F)(1) After the approval of a tax for current operating expenses under this section and prior to the time the first collection and distribution from the levy can be made, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected during the first year of the levy. (2) After the approval of a tax under this section for permanent improvements having a specific purpose, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax remaining to be collected in each year over a period of five years after issuance of the notes. (3) After the approval of a tax under this section for general permanent improvements as defined under section 5705.21 of the Revised Code, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of such tax and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected in each year over a specified period of years, not exceeding ten, after issuance of the notes. Anticipation notes under this section shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code. Notes issued under division (F)(1) or (2) of this section shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 H. B. No. 28 Page 40 As Introduced principal payment in the year of their issuance. Notes issued under division (F)(3) of this section shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed ten years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance. (G) A tax for current operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied under this section for a specified number of years may be renewed or replaced in the same manner as a tax for current operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied under section 5705.21 of the Revised Code. A tax for current operating expenses or for permanent improvements levied under this section for a continuing period of time may be decreased in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code. (H) The submission of a question to the electors under this section is subject to the limitation on the number of elections that can be held in a year under section 5705.214 of the Revised Code. (I) A school district board of education proposing a ballot measure under this section to generate local resources for a project under the school building assistance expedited local partnership program under section 3318.36 of the Revised Code may combine the questions under division (D) of this section with a question for the levy of a property tax to generate moneys for maintenance of the classroom facilities acquired under that project as prescribed in section 3318.361 of the Revised Code. (J)(1) After receiving the county auditor's certifications under division (A) of this section, the board of education of a qualifying school district, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, may declare by resolution that it is necessary to levy 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 1168 1169 1170 1171 H. B. No. 28 Page 41 As Introduced a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation for the purpose of paying the current expenses of the school district and of partnering community schools, as defined in section 5705.21 of the Revised Code; that it is necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the school district for permanent improvements of the district and to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities; and that the question of the bonds and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at a special election, which shall not be earlier than ninety days after certification of the resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall be consistent with section 3505.01 of the Revised Code. The levy of taxes for the current expenses of a partnering community school under division (J) of this section and the distribution of proceeds from the tax by a qualifying school district to partnering community schools is hereby determined to be a proper public purpose. (2) The tax for the current expenses of the school district and of partnering community schools is subject to the requirements of divisions (B)(3), (4), and (5) of section 5705.21 of the Revised Code. (3) In addition to the required specifications of the resolution under division (B) of this section, the resolution shall express the rate of the tax in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, state the number of the mills to be levied for the current expenses of the partnering community schools and the number of the mills to be levied for the current expenses of the school district, specify 1172 1173 1174 1175 1176 1177 1178 1179 1180 1181 1182 1183 1184 1185 1186 1187 1188 1189 1190 1191 1192 1193 1194 1195 1196 1197 1198 1199 1200 1201 H. B. No. 28 Page 42 As Introduced the number of years (not exceeding ten) the tax will be levied or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time, and state the first year the tax will be levied. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of it is necessary other than that provided in the notice of election. The board of education shall certify a copy of the resolution, along with copies of the auditor's estimate and its resolution under division (A) of this section, to the board of elections immediately after its adoption. (4) The form of the ballot shall be modified by replacing the ballot form set forth in division (D)(3) of this section with the following: "Levy an additional property tax for the purpose of the current expenses of the school district and of partnering community schools, that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually, at a rate not exceeding ______ mills for each $1 of taxable value (of which ______ (insert the number of mills to be allocated to partnering community schools) mills is to be allocated to partnering community schools), which amounts to $______ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for ______ (insert the number of years the levy is to be imposed, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time)? FOR THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES) AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES) " (5) After the approval of a tax for the current expenses 1202 1203 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 1210 1211 1212 1213 1214 1215 1216 1217 1218 1219 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 H. B. No. 28 Page 43 As Introduced of the school district and of partnering community schools under division (J) of this section, and prior to the time the first collection and distribution from the levy can be made, the board of education may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy for the current expenses of the school district and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the estimated proceeds of the levy to be collected during the first year of the levy and allocated to the school district. The portion of levy proceeds to be allocated to partnering community schools shall not be included in the estimated proceeds anticipated under this division and shall not be used to pay debt charges on any anticipation notes. The notes shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code, shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance. (6) A tax for the current expenses of the school district and of partnering community schools levied under division (J) of this section for a specified number of years may be renewed or replaced in the same manner as a tax for the current expenses of a school district and of partnering community schools levied under division (B) of section 5705.21 of the Revised Code. A tax for the current expenses of the school district and of partnering community schools levied under this division for a continuing period of time may be decreased in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code. (7) The proceeds from the issuance of the general obligation bonds under division (J) of this section shall be used solely to pay for permanent improvements of the school 1228 1229 1230 1231 1232 1233 1234 1235 1236 1237 1238 1239 1240 1241 1242 1243 1244 1245 1246 1247 1248 1249 1250 1251 1252 1253 1254 1255 1256 1257 H. B. No. 28 Page 44 As Introduced district and not for permanent improvements of partnering community schools. Sec. 5705.2111. (A) If the board of directors of a regional student education district created under section 3313.83 of the Revised Code desires to levy a tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation throughout the district for the purpose of funding the services to be provided by the district to students enrolled in the school districts of which the district is composed and their immediate family members, the board shall propose the levy to each of the boards of education of those school districts. The proposal shall specify the rate or amount of the tax, the number of years the tax will be levied or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time, and that the aggregate rate of the tax shall not exceed three mills per dollar of taxable value in the regional student education district. (B)(1) If a majority of the boards of education of the school districts of which the regional student education district is composed approves the proposal for the tax levy, the board of directors of the regional student education district may adopt a resolution approved by a majority of the board's full membership declaring the necessity of levying the proposed tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation throughout the district for the purpose of funding the services to be provided by the district to students enrolled in the school districts of which the district is composed and their immediate family members. The resolution shall provide for the question of the tax to be submitted to the electors of the district at a general, primary, or special election on a day to be specified in the resolution that is consistent with the requirements of section 3501.01 of the Revised Code and that occurs at least ninety days after the 1258 1259 1260 1261 1262 1263 1264 1265 1266 1267 1268 1269 1270 1271 1272 1273 1274 1275 1276 1277 1278 1279 1280 1281 1282 1283 1284 1285 1286 1287 1288 H. B. No. 28 Page 45 As Introduced resolution is certified to the board of elections. The resolution shall specify the rate or amount of the tax and the number of years the tax will be levied or that the tax will be levied for a continuing period of time. The aggregate rate of tax levied by a regional student education district under this section at any time shall not exceed three mills per dollar of taxable value in the district. A tax levied under this section may be renewed, subject to section 5705.25 of the Revised Code , or replaced as provided in section 5705.192 of the Revised Code . (2) The resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage, and no publication of the resolution is necessary other than that provided in the notice of election. The resolution shall be certified and submitted in the manner provided under section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, and that section governs the arrangements governing submission of the question and other matters concerning the election. Sec. 5705.221. (A) At any time, the board of county commissioners of any county by a majority vote of the full membership may declare by resolution and certify to the board of elections of the county that the amount of taxes which may be raised within the ten-mill limitation by levies on the current tax duplicate will be insufficient to provide the necessary requirements of the county's alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health service district established pursuant to Chapter 340. of the Revised Code, or the county's contribution to a joint-county district of which the county is a part, and that it is necessary to levy a tax in excess of such limitation for the operation of community addiction services providers and community mental health services providers and the acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance, and operation of alcohol and drug addiction facilities and mental health facilities. 1289 1290 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 1298 1299 1300 1301 1302 1303 1304 1305 1306 1307 1308 1309 1310 1311 1312 1313 1314 1315 1316 1317 1318 1319 H. B. No. 28 Page 46 As Introduced Such resolution shall conform to section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, except that the increased rate may be in effect for any number of years not exceeding ten. The resolution shall be certified and submitted in the manner provided in section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, except that it may be placed on the ballot in any election, and except as otherwise provided in division (G) of this section. The resolution shall be certified to the board of elections not less than ninety days before the election at which it will be voted upon. If the majority of the electors voting on a levy to supplement general fund appropriations for the support of the comprehensive community addiction and mental health services providers vote in favor of the levy, the board may levy a tax within the county at the additional rate outside the ten-mill limitation during the specified period, for the purpose stated in the resolution. (B) When electors have approved a tax levy under this section, the board of county commissioners may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and, from time to time, issue anticipation notes in accordance with section 5705.191 or 5705.193 of the Revised Code. (C) The county auditor who is the fiscal officer of the alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health service district, upon receipt of a resolution from the board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services, shall establish for the district a capital improvements account or a reserve balance account, or both, as specified in the resolution. The capital improvements account shall be a contingency fund for the necessary acquisition, replacement, renovation, or construction 1320 1321 1322 1323 1324 1325 1326 1327 1328 1329 1330 1331 1332 1333 1334 1335 1336 1337 1338 1339 1340 1341 1342 1343 1344 1345 1346 1347 1348 1349 H. B. No. 28 Page 47 As Introduced of facilities and movable and fixed equipment. Upon the request of the board, funds not needed to pay for current expenses may be appropriated to the capital improvements account, in amounts such that the account does not exceed twenty-five per cent of the replacement value of all capital facilities and equipment currently used by the board for programs and services. Other funds which are available for current capital expenses from federal, state, or local sources may also be appropriated to this account. The reserve balance account shall contain those funds that are not needed to pay for current operating expenses and not deposited in the capital improvements account but that will be needed to pay for operating expenses in the future. Upon the request of a board, such funds shall be appropriated to the reserve balance account. Payments from the capital improvements account and the reserve balance account shall be made by the county treasurer who is the custodian of funds for the district upon warrants issued by the county auditor who is the fiscal officer of the district pursuant to orders of the board. (D) If a board of county commissioners levies a tax under this section for the county's contribution to a joint-county district of which the county is a part, revenue from the tax shall only be expended for the benefit of the residents of the county. (E) If a board of county commissioners levies a tax under this section for the county's contribution to a joint-county district of which the county is a part and that district expands or contracts due to the addition or withdrawal of another county, the board, provided that county remains a part of the newly expanded or contracted joint-county district, shall 1350 1351 1352 1353 1354 1355 1356 1357 1358 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 1364 1365 1366 1367 1368 1369 1370 1371 1372 1373 1374 1375 1376 1377 1378 1379 H. B. No. 28 Page 48 As Introduced continue to levy and collect that tax, pursuant to the terms originally approved by electors, for the county's contribution to the newly expanded or contracted joint-county district of which the county is a part. Notwithstanding sections 5705.192 and section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, the election notice and ballot language of a renewal or replacement of such a levy shall identify the name of the newly expanded or contracted joint- county district. (F) If a board of county commissioners levies a tax under this section for the county's contribution to a joint-county district of which the county is a part and the county withdraws from the district, the board shall continue to levy and collect that tax, pursuant to the terms originally approved by electors, for one of the following purposes, if either situation applies: (1) For the county's contribution to a newly joined joint- county district, if the county joins such a joint-county district in the tax year after the year in which the county withdraws from the other joint-county district; (2) To provide the necessary requirements of the county's alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health service district, if the county establishes such a district under Chapter 340. of the Revised Code in the tax year after the year in which the county withdraws from the joint-county district. Notwithstanding sections 5705.192 and section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, the election notice and ballot language of a renewal or replacement of such a levy shall identify the name of the newly established district or newly joined joint-county district. (G) Division (G) of this section applies only if all of 1380 1381 1382 1383 1384 1385 1386 1387 1388 1389 1390 1391 1392 1393 1394 1395 1396 1397 1398 1399 1400 1401 1402 1403 1404 1405 1406 1407 1408 H. B. No. 28 Page 49 As Introduced the following apply: (1) The county withdraws from a joint-county district. (2) The board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services of that joint-county district levies a tax under section 5705.19 of the Revised Code in the tax year for which the county withdraws from the joint-county district. (3) The board of county commissioners of the withdrawing county adopts a resolution under division (A) of this section proposing a tax under this section that specifies that the first tax year the tax is to be levied by the board is the tax year after the year the tax described in division (G)(2) of this section expires or is renewed or replaced, as authorized under division (B) of section 340.01 of the Revised Code. The proposed tax described in division (G)(3) of this section may be a renewal, renewal and decrease, or renewal and increase of the tax described in division (G)(2) of this section, except that, notwithstanding section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, the election notice and ballot language of a renewal of such a levy shall identify the county as the subdivision within which the tax will be levied and not the joint-county district from which the county withdrew. Alternatively, the tax described in division (G)(3) of this section may be a replacement, replacement and decrease, or replacement and increase of the tax described in division (G)(2) of this section, as authorized under section 5705.192 of the Revised Code, except that, notwithstanding that section, the election notice and ballot language of a replacement of such a levy shall identify the county as the subdivision within which the tax will be levied and not the joint-county district from 1409 1410 1411 1412 1413 1414 1415 1416 1417 1418 1419 1420 1421 1422 1423 1424 1425 1426 1427 1428 1429 1430 1431 1432 1433 1434 1435 1436 1437 H. B. No. 28 Page 50 As Introduced which the county withdrew. Sec. 5705.233. (A) As used in this section, "criminal justice facility" means any facility located within the county in which a tax is levied under this section and for which the board of commissioners of such county may make an appropriation under section 307.45 of the Revised Code. (B) The board of county commissioners of any county, at any time, may declare by resolution that it may be necessary for the county to issue general obligation bonds for permanent improvements to a criminal justice facility, including the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, or maintenance of such a facility. The resolution shall state all of the following: (1) The necessity and purpose of the bond issue; (2) The date of the general or special election at which the question shall be submitted to the electors; (3) The amount, approximate date, estimated rate of interest, and maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid; (4) The necessity of levying a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities. On adoption of the resolution, the board of county commissioners shall certify a copy of it to the county auditor. The county auditor promptly shall estimate and certify to the board the average annual property tax rate, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to 1438 1439 1440 1441 1442 1443 1444 1445 1446 1447 1448 1449 1450 1451 1452 1453 1454 1455 1456 1457 1458 1459 1460 1461 1462 1463 1464 1465 1466 H. B. No. 28 Page 51 As Introduced pay debt charges on the bonds, in the same manner as under division (C) of section 133.18 of the Revised Code. Except as provided in division (C) of this section, division (B) of section 5705.03 of the Revised Code does not apply to tax levy proceedings initiated under this section. (C) After receiving the county auditor's certification under division (B) of this section and, if applicable, section 5705.03 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners may declare by resolution that the amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future criminal justice requirements of the county; that it is necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the county for permanent improvements to a criminal justice facility and to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation to pay debt charges on the bonds and any anticipatory securities; that it is necessary for a specified number of years or for a continuing period of time to levy additional taxes in excess of the ten- mill limitation to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, maintenance, and financing of permanent improvements to such a criminal justice facility or to pay for operating expenses of the facility and other criminal justice services for which the board may make an appropriation under section 307.45 of the Revised Code, or both; and that the question of the bonds and taxes shall be submitted to the electors of the county at a general or special election, which shall not be earlier than ninety days after certification of the resolution to the board of elections, and the date of which shall be consistent with section 3501.01 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall specify all of the following: (1) The county auditor's estimate of the average annual 1467 1468 1469 1470 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475 1476 1477 1478 1479 1480 1481 1482 1483 1484 1485 1486 1487 1488 1489 1490 1491 1492 1493 1494 1495 1496 1497 H. B. No. 28 Page 52 As Introduced property tax rate required throughout the stated maturity of the bonds to pay debt charges on the bonds; (2) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for operating expenses and criminal justice services, the first year the tax will be levied, and the number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time; (3) The proposed rate of the tax, if any, for permanent improvements to a criminal justice facility, the first year the tax will be levied, and the number of years it will be levied, or that it will be levied for a continuing period of time. The resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage, and no publication of it is necessary other than that provided in the notice of election, except that division (B) of section 5705.03 of the Revised Code applies if the resolution proposes an additional tax for operating expenses and criminal justice services or permanent improvements. The board of county commissioners shall certify, immediately after its adoption, a copy of the resolution, along with copies of the auditor's certifications under division (B) of this section or section 5705.03 of the Revised Code, if applicable, and the board's resolution under division (B) of this section, to the board of elections. (D) The board of elections shall make the arrangements for the submission of the question proposed under division (C) of this section to the electors of the county, and the election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in the county for the election of county officers. The resolution shall be put before the electors as one ballot question, with a favorable vote indicating approval of the bond issue, the levy to pay debt charges on the bonds and 1498 1499 1500 1501 1502 1503 1504 1505 1506 1507 1508 1509 1510 1511 1512 1513 1514 1515 1516 1517 1518 1519 1520 1521 1522 1523 1524 1525 1526 1527 H. B. No. 28 Page 53 As Introduced any anticipatory securities, the operating expenses and criminal justice services levy, and the permanent improvements levy, as those levies may be proposed. The board of elections shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for two consecutive weeks, or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, before the election. If a board of elections operates and maintains a web site, that board also shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days before the election. The notice of election shall state all of the following: (1) The principal amount of the proposed bond issue; (2) The permanent improvements for which the bonds are to be issued; (3) The maximum number of years over which the principal of the bonds may be paid; (4) The estimated additional average annual property tax rate, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value and in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, to pay the debt charges on the bonds, as certified by the county auditor; (5) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for operating expenses and criminal justice services; (6) The number of years the operating expenses or criminal justice services tax will be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing period of time; (7) The proposed rate of the additional tax, if any, for permanent improvements; (8) The number of years the permanent improvements tax 1528 1529 1530 1531 1532 1533 1534 1535 1536 1537 1538 1539 1540 1541 1542 1543 1544 1545 1546 1547 1548 1549 1550 1551 1552 1553 1554 1555 H. B. No. 28 Page 54 As Introduced will be in effect, or that it will be in effect for a continuing period of time; (9) The estimated annual collections, if applicable, of the current operating expenses or criminal justice services levy and permanent improvements levy, as certified by the county auditor; (10) The time and place of the election. (E) The form of the ballot for an election under this section is as follows: "Shall __________ be authorized to do the following: (1) Issue bonds for the purpose of __________ in the principal amount of $______, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of ______ years, and levy a property tax outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period ______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $______ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?" If either a levy for permanent improvements or a levy for operating expenses and criminal justice services is proposed, or both are proposed, the ballot also shall contain the following language, as appropriate: "(2) Levy an additional property tax to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, maintenance, and financing of permanent improvements to a criminal justice facility, that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually, at a rate not exceeding _______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $_______ 1556 1557 1558 1559 1560 1561 1562 1563 1564 1565 1566 1567 1568 1569 1570 1571 1572 1573 1574 1575 1576 1577 1578 1579 1580 1581 1582 1583 1584 H. B. No. 28 Page 55 As Introduced for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for ______ (number of years of the levy, or a continuing period of time)? (3) Levy an additional property tax to pay operating expenses of a criminal justice facility and provide other criminal justice services, that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually, at a rate not exceeding _______ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $_______ for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for _______ (number of years of the levy, or a continuing period of time)? FOR THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES) AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE AND LEVY (OR LEVIES)" (F) The board of elections promptly shall certify the results of the election to the tax commissioner and the county auditor. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote for it, the board of county commissioners may proceed with issuance of the bonds and the levy and collection of the property tax for the debt service on the bonds and any anticipatory securities in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as for securities issued under section 133.18 of the Revised Code, and with the levy and collection of the property tax or taxes for operating expenses and criminal justice services and for permanent improvements at the additional rate or any lesser rate in excess of the ten-mill limitation. Any securities issued by the board of commissioners under this section are Chapter 133. securities, as that term is defined in section 133.01 of the Revised Code. (G)(1) After the approval of a tax for operating expenses 1585 1586 1587 1588 1589 1590 1591 1592 1593 1594 1595 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 1613 H. B. No. 28 Page 56 As Introduced and criminal justice services under this section and before the time the first collection and distribution from the levy can be made, the board of county commissioners may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the levy and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax to be collected during the first year of the levy. (2) After the approval of a tax under this section for permanent improvements to a criminal justice facility, the board of county commissioners may anticipate a fraction of the proceeds of the tax and issue anticipation notes in a principal amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the total estimated proceeds of the tax remaining to be collected in each year over a period of five years after issuance of the notes. Anticipation notes under this section shall be issued as provided in section 133.24 of the Revised Code. Notes issued under division (G) of this section shall have principal payments during each year after the year of their issuance over a period not to exceed five years, and may have a principal payment in the year of their issuance. (H) A tax for operating expenses and criminal justice services or for permanent improvements levied under this section for a specified number of years may be renewed or replaced in the same manner as a tax for current operating expenses or permanent improvements levied under section 5705.19 of the Revised Code. A tax levied under this section for a continuing period of time may be decreased in accordance with section 5705.261 of the Revised Code. Sec. 5705.261. (A) The question of decrease of an increased rate of levy approved for a continuing period of time 1614 1615 1616 1617 1618 1619 1620 1621 1622 1623 1624 1625 1626 1627 1628 1629 1630 1631 1632 1633 1634 1635 1636 1637 1638 1639 1640 1641 1642 1643 H. B. No. 28 Page 57 As Introduced by the voters of a subdivision or, in the case of a qualifying library levy, the voters of the library district or association library district, may be initiated by the filing of a petition with the board of elections of the proper county not less than ninety days before the general election in any year requesting that an election be held on such question. Such petition shall state the amount of the proposed decrease in the rate of levy and shall be signed by qualified electors residing in the subdivision, library district, or association library district equal in number to at least ten per cent of the total number of votes cast in the subdivision, library district, or association library district for the office of governor at the most recent general election for that office. Only one such petition may be filed during each five-year period following the election at which the voters approved the increased rate for a continuing period of time. After determination by it that such petition is valid, the board of elections shall do both of the following: (1) Request that the county auditor certify to the board, in the same manner as required for a tax levy under section 5705.03 of the Revised Code, an estimate of the levy's annual collections and the levy's estimated effective rate in both the last year before the proposed decrease and the first year that the decrease applies, stated in dollars, rounded to the nearest dollar, for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value. Estimated effective rates shall be calculated using the tax list for the current year, and if this is not determined, the estimated amount submitted by the auditor to the county budget commission. If the subdivision, library district, or association library district is located in more than one county, the county auditor shall obtain from the county 1644 1645 1646 1647 1648 1649 1650 1651 1652 1653 1654 1655 1656 1657 1658 1659 1660 1661 1662 1663 1664 1665 1666 1667 1668 1669 1670 1671 1672 1673 1674 H. B. No. 28 Page 58 As Introduced auditor of each other county in which the subdivision or district is located the tax valuation applicable to the portion of the subdivision or district in that county. The county auditor shall certify such information to the board of elections within ten days after receiving the board's request. (2) Submit the question to the electors of the subdivision, library district, or association library district at the succeeding general election pursuant to division (B) of this section. (B) The election shall be conducted, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as regular elections in such subdivision, library district, or association library district for county offices. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for two consecutive weeks, or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, prior to the election. If the board of elections operates and maintains a web site, the board of elections shall post notice of the election on its web site for thirty days prior to the election. The notice shall state the purpose, the levy's estimated annual collections, the amount of the proposed decrease in rate, expressed in mills for each one dollar of taxable value, the estimated effective rate of the levy in the year before the proposed decrease and the first year that the decrease applies, both expressed in dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars of the county auditor's appraised value, and the time and place of the election. The form of the ballot cast at such election shall be prescribed by the secretary of state but must include all information required to be included in the notice. The question covered by the petition shall be submitted 1675 1676 1677 1678 1679 1680 1681 1682 1683 1684 1685 1686 1687 1688 1689 1690 1691 1692 1693 1694 1695 1696 1697 1698 1699 1700 1701 1702 1703 1704 H. B. No. 28 Page 59 As Introduced as a separate proposition but it may be printed on the same ballot with any other propositions submitted at the same election other than the election of officers. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of a decrease at such election approve the proposed decrease in rate, the result of the election shall be certified immediately after the canvass by the board of elections to the appropriate taxing authority, which shall thereupon, after the current year, cease to levy such increased rate or levy such tax at such reduced rate upon the tax list of the subdivision, library district, or association library district. If notes have been issued in anticipation of the collection of such levy, the taxing authority shall continue to levy and collect under authority of the election authorizing the original levy such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such anticipation notes as the same fall due. In the case of a levy for the current expenses of a qualifying school district and of partnering community schools imposed under section 5705.192, as it existed before the effective date of this amendment, division (B) of section 5705.21, division (C) of section 5705.212, or division (J) of section 5705.218 of the Revised Code for a continuing period of time, the rate allocated to the school district and to partnering community schools shall each be decreased by a number of mills per dollar that is proportionate to the decrease in the rate of the levy in proportion to the rate at which the levy was imposed before the decrease. Sec. 5705.412. (A) As used in this section, "qualifying contract" means any agreement for the expenditure of money under which aggregate payments from the funds included in the school district's five-year forecast under section 5705.391 of the 1705 1706 1707 1708 1709 1710 1711 1712 1713 1714 1715 1716 1717 1718 1719 1720 1721 1722 1723 1724 1725 1726 1727 1728 1729 1730 1731 1732 1733 1734 1735 H. B. No. 28 Page 60 As Introduced Revised Code will exceed the lesser of the following amounts: (1) Five hundred thousand dollars; (2) One per cent of the total revenue to be credited in the current fiscal year to the district's general fund, as specified in the district's most recent certificate of estimated resources certified under section 5705.36 of the Revised Code. (B)(1) Notwithstanding section 5705.41 of the Revised Code, no school district shall adopt any appropriation measure, make any qualifying contract, or increase during any school year any wage or salary schedule unless there is attached thereto a certificate, signed as required by this section, that the school district has in effect the authorization to levy taxes including the renewal or replacement of existing levies which, when combined with the estimated revenue from all other sources available to the district at the time of certification, are sufficient to provide the operating revenues necessary to enable the district to maintain all personnel and programs for all the days set forth in its adopted school calendars for the current fiscal year and for a number of days in succeeding fiscal years equal to the number of days instruction was held or is scheduled for the current fiscal year, as follows: (a) A certificate attached to an appropriation measure under this section shall cover only the fiscal year in which the appropriation measure is effective and shall not consider the renewal or replacement of an existing levy as the authority to levy taxes that are subject to appropriation in the current fiscal year unless the renewal or replacement levy has been approved by the electors and is subject to appropriation in the current fiscal year. 1736 1737 1738 1739 1740 1741 1742 1743 1744 1745 1746 1747 1748 1749 1750 1751 1752 1753 1754 1755 1756 1757 1758 1759 1760 1761 1762 1763 1764 H. B. No. 28 Page 61 As Introduced (b) A certificate attached, in accordance with this section, to any qualifying contract shall cover the term of the contract. (c) A certificate attached under this section to a wage or salary schedule shall cover the term of the schedule. If the board of education has not adopted a school calendar for the school year beginning on the first day of the fiscal year in which a certificate is required, the certificate attached to an appropriation measure shall include the number of days on which instruction was held in the preceding fiscal year and other certificates required under this section shall include that number of days for the fiscal year in which the certificate is required and any succeeding fiscal years that the certificate must cover. The certificate shall be signed by the treasurer and president of the board of education and the superintendent of the school district, unless the district is in a state of fiscal emergency declared under Chapter 3316. of the Revised Code. In that case, the certificate shall be signed by a member of the district's financial planning and supervision commission who is designated by the commission for this purpose. (2) In lieu of the certificate required under division (B) of this section, an alternative certificate stating the following may be attached: (a) The contract is a multi-year contract for materials, equipment, or nonpayroll services essential to the education program of the district; (b) The multi-year contract demonstrates savings over the duration of the contract as compared to costs that otherwise 1765 1766 1767 1768 1769 1770 1771 1772 1773 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 H. B. No. 28 Page 62 As Introduced would have been demonstrated in a single year contract, and the terms will allow the district to reduce the deficit it is currently facing in future years as demonstrated in its five- year forecast adopted in accordance with section 5705.391 of the Revised Code. The certificate shall be signed by the treasurer and president of the board of education and the superintendent of the school district, unless the district is in a state of fiscal emergency declared under Chapter 3316. of the Revised Code. In that case, the certificate shall be signed by a member of the district's financial planning and supervision commission who is designated by the commission for this purpose. (C) Every qualifying contract made or wage or salary schedule adopted or put into effect without such a certificate shall be void, and no payment of any amount due thereon shall be made. (D) The department of education and workforce and the auditor of state jointly shall adopt rules governing the methods by which treasurers, presidents of boards of education, superintendents, and members of financial planning and supervision commissions shall estimate revenue and determine whether such revenue is sufficient to provide necessary operating revenue for the purpose of making certifications required by this section. (E) The auditor of state shall be responsible for determining whether school districts are in compliance with this section. At the time a school district is audited pursuant to section 117.11 of the Revised Code, the auditor of state shall review each certificate issued under this section since the district's last audit, and the appropriation measure, contract, 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 H. B. No. 28 Page 63 As Introduced or wage and salary schedule to which such certificate was attached. If the auditor of state determines that a school district has not complied with this section with respect to any qualifying contract or wage or salary schedule, the auditor of state shall notify the prosecuting attorney for the county, the city director of law, or other chief law officer of the school district. That officer may file a civil action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction to seek a declaration that the contract or wage or salary schedule is void, to recover for the school district from the payee the amount of payments already made under it, or both, except that the officer shall not seek to recover payments made under any collective bargaining agreement entered into under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. If the officer does not file such an action within one hundred twenty days after receiving notice of noncompliance from the auditor of state, any taxpayer may institute the action in the taxpayer's own name on behalf of the school district. (F) This section does not apply to any contract or increase in any wage or salary schedule that is necessary in order to enable a board of education to comply with division (B) of section 3317.13 of the Revised Code, provided the contract or increase does not exceed the amount required to be paid to be in compliance with such division. (G) Any officer, employee, or other person who expends or authorizes the expenditure of any public funds or authorizes or executes any contract or schedule contrary to this section, expends or authorizes the expenditure of any public funds on the void contract or schedule, or issues a certificate under this section which contains any false statements is liable to the school district for the full amount paid from the district's funds on the contract or schedule. The officer, employee, or 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 H. B. No. 28 Page 64 As Introduced other person is jointly and severally liable in person and upon any official bond that the officer, employee, or other person has given to the school district to the extent of any payments on the void claim, not to exceed ten thousand dollars. However, no officer, employee, or other person shall be liable for a mistaken estimate of available resources made in good faith and based upon reasonable grounds. If an officer, employee, or other person is found to have complied with rules jointly adopted by the department of education and workforce and the auditor of state under this section governing methods by which revenue shall be estimated and determined sufficient to provide necessary operating revenue for the purpose of making certifications required by this section, the officer, employee, or other person shall not be liable under this section if the estimates and determinations made according to those rules do not, in fact, conform with actual revenue. The prosecuting attorney of the county, the city director of law, or other chief law officer of the district shall enforce this liability by civil action brought in any court of appropriate jurisdiction in the name of and on behalf of the school district. If the prosecuting attorney, city director of law, or other chief law officer of the district fails, upon the written request of any taxpayer, to institute action for the enforcement of the liability, the attorney general, or the taxpayer in the taxpayer's own name, may institute the action on behalf of the subdivision. (H) This section does not require the attachment of an additional certificate beyond that required by section 5705.41 of the Revised Code for current payrolls of, or contracts of employment with, any employees or officers of the school district. 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 H. B. No. 28 Page 65 As Introduced This section does not require the attachment of a certificate to a temporary appropriation measure if all of the following apply: (1) The amount appropriated does not exceed twenty-five per cent of the total amount from all sources available for expenditure from any fund during the preceding fiscal year; (2) The measure will not be in effect on or after the thirtieth day following the earliest date on which the district may pass an annual appropriation measure; (3) An amended official certificate of estimated resources for the current year, if required, has not been certified to the board of education under division (B) of section 5705.36 of the Revised Code. Section 2. That existing sections 319.301, 319.302, 523.06, 1545.21, 3316.041, 3316.06, 3358.11, 3505.06, 5705.03, 5705.218, 5705.2111, 5705.221, 5705.233, 5705.261, and 5705.412 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed. Section 3. That section 5705.192 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed. Section 4. (A) The amendment by this act of section 1545.21 of the Revised Code applies to elections held on or after October 1, 2025. (B) As used in this division, "former section 5705.192 of the Revised Code" means section 5705.192 of the Revised Code as it existed before the effective date of its repeal by this act. If a taxing authority, as defined in former section 5705.192 of the Revised Code, acts under that section prior to its repeal by this act to replace an existing levy and submit 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 H. B. No. 28 Page 66 As Introduced the question to electors at an election held before October 1, 2025, then a board of elections shall proceed to submit that question in accordance with that former section, notwithstanding the effective date of its repeal by this act. No replacement of a tax proposed under former section 5705.192 of the Revised Code shall be submitted to electors at an election held on or after October 1, 2025. 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921