2022 Bond Issue Info

A 7.20 mill bond issue that will raise $49.9 million. The bond issue would be used to pay for:

• A new building for grades 4-6
• Classroom additions at the high school
• Small renovations to Goshen’s other three buildings
• Site circulation improvements to ease congestion along Goshen Road

Two reasons: Already crowded classrooms and projected growth in our community.

According to state calculations, Goshen school buildings are already operating over their intended capacity. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission estimates a capacity of 2,577 students for Goshen’s four schools. Current enrollment is 2,917, nearly 400 students over capacity.

Also, based on already approved plans, Goshen Township officials estimate that Goshen will grow by 1,104 new homes over the next five to seven years. Those homes are expected to bring 600 new students.

Income tax dollars are used for day-to-day operating expenses (salaries, books, utilities) and cannot be used for new construction or to renovate facilities.

After the 2019 bond issue failed, the Goshen Board of Education and administrators gathered feedback from voters, families, and staff. This feedback showed that voters supported additional classroom space, but believed the previous plan had too many “extras.” This bond issue addresses space needs only and benefits all grade levels of Goshen students.

This is a possible short-term solution, but it comes at a cost.

Goshen only accepts open enrolled students on a case-by-case basis to fill existing classes that have empty seats. The district does not add additional classes or teachers and does not incur additional costs like transportation for these students. Eliminating open enrollment would also eliminate significant revenue Goshen receives from the state of Ohio for these students.

Lack of space is already impacting the delivery of a quality Goshen education. Classes are held in a locker room, libraries, a modified closet, trailers, and any other available space. The district is currently in a time where making decisions on new or updated academic programs are based solely on space availability.

Delaying a bond issue would mostly likely mean higher construction costs in the future, and would not address current overcrowding problems and predicted enrollment growth.

The average construction time for a new school is 24 to 36 months, which means two or three more school years of enrollment growth before new spaces would be available.

The Homestead Program is designed to provide tax credit relief to citizens who are at least 65 years of age or permanently and totally disabled.

To qualify for the New Homestead Exemption, the following criteria must be met:

• After January 1, 2014 new applicants must also show they have an annual Ohio adjusted gross income less than $34,600 to qualify for the exemption.
• You must be at least 65 years old during the year in which you are applying, or be permanently and totally disabled, or be a surviving spouse of a person who was receiving the previous Homestead Exemption at the time of death and where the surviving spouse was at least 59 years old on the date of death.
  • Disabled applicants must include a Certificate of Disability form (DTE 105E) signed by a doctor or State or Federal Agency or have an awards letter from the Social Security Office.

• You must own and occupy your home as your principal place of residence as of January 1st of the year in which you are applying. 

• With the passage of HB 85, military veterans who are 100 percent disabled from a service-related disability are now eligible for an increased homestead exemption from

Applicants must complete the Homestead Exemption Application for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses (DTE105I) to receive this exemption.

It is illegal to impose a tax or assess a fee on some – but not all – property owners. Hamilton Township in Warren County attempted to impose similar impact fees on new homes during a building boom in the early 2000s. This was challenged in court and ruled to be unconstitutional. The township had to refund fees back to developers.

Any new homes or businesses that will be built in Goshen will pay for the bond issue, and help reduce the tax burden for those already residing in the district.

GLSD uses grant dollars to increase student safety, improve facilities, add new after school programs.  When the high school was built over 20 years ago the district received much of the funding from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.  You can only qualify for that funding once–we already have.

However, Goshen Local Schools is committed to adding the programs our students and families need, and to funding these programs without burdening our taxpayers. In 2022 we secured funding totaling over $1.17M from a variety of sources including:

• Expanding Opportunities Grant - $425,000 
• Erate technology funding - $289,316
• Emergency Connectivity Fund - $232,000 
• Striving Readers Grant - $172,043
• Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation School Safety and Security Grant - $15,103
• Ohio Attorney General School Safety - $15,000
• High Schools That Work - $8,000
• Clermont County Job and Family Services Hope Squad - $4,050
• UC Coding With Robots - $1,250
• Motz Community Grant - $1,000
• UC Learning Through The Arts - $1,000 
• UC STEM Bicycle Club - $800
• Ohio EPA 2022 Water Bottle Refilling Station Grant- $10,000