Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017
New Bremen voters OK building levy
Marion Township voters approve fire replacement levy
By Sydney Albert
CELINA - Voters in the New Bremen school district approved the construction of a new school building while Marion Township voters approved a fire improvement replacement levy.
The 7.46-mill New Bremen schools construction levy and 1-mill permanent improvement levy passed with 62 percent of the vote, with 845 voters in favor and 511 against. The new levies will help construct a new $20 million K-8 building adjacent to the current high school. Levy campaign committee president Jon Wells has said the state will cover 28 percent of the project cost - about $5.6 million - and $14.4 million will be funded locally.
The owner of a $100,000 home will pay $261 per year for the construction levy and $30-$35 a year for the permanent improvements. Collection of an existing 1-mill permanent improvement levy, which was last approved by voters in 2015, will stop when collection of the new levies begins in January.
Along with the new elementary building, the project will include limited renovations to house grades 6-12, parking lot improvements and paving. The current elementary school eventually will be demolished and returned to green space, with some contents of the building being auctioned.
"I'd like to thank our community for their support of the new levy," superintendent Andrea Townsend said this morning. "I think its going to be a boost to the community education system."
School officials have said they hope to start construction in spring 2018 with completion targeted for the 2020-2021 school year.
A Marion Township 5-year replacement levy of 2.4-mills passed by 85 percent, with 620 voters in favor and 111 against. The levy helps pay for fire protection in the township. The millage has not changed since the levy first passed in 2007, said Chickasaw Fire Chief Mark Seitz.
The owner of a $100,000 home will pay $240 per year.
"We're very pleased at the support from the Marion community," Seitz said. "The support is greatly appreciated and will definitely help the departments that cover Marion Township."
