The first installment of CCS Levy by the Numbers was published back in July when the measure was still in its developmental stages. Now the levy has been approved for the November ballot, and the district has launched into campaign mode. The effort has its own website, Facebook page, and volunteers who pass out pamphlets at school events.
So, it’s time for an update (or two, stay tuned). Because one of the truest things ever said about statistics is this: “Numbers, if sufficiently tortured, will confess to almost anything.” Here are uninterpreted, unpackaged, unprocessed numbers. You can do your own research in the links below.
Issue Number assigned to the new levy: 57
According to the district campaign, increase in property tax: “10 percent”
Actual increase in taxes levied by the district: 18 percent
Value and annual property tax of a home on Cassingham in the B-rated Bexley School District: $256,700/$5,861
Value and annual property tax of a home on Ashdowne Road in the B-rated Upper Arlington School District:$259,100/$5,413
Value and annual property tax of a home on Sheffield Road, in the F-rated Columbus City Schools District: $248,600/$5,232
Of the three compared communities, projected ranking of Columbus residents’ property tax burden (including levy): #1
Total fees collected by consultants Dejong-Richter to update Columbus City Schools facilities plan for 2016: $182,105.70
Items in Issue 57 recommended by the facilities plan developed by Dejong-Richter and its community committee: Zero
Of the 6.92 requested mill, amount designated for essential clean-warm-dry maintenance: 0.84 mill (12 percent)
Of the 6.92 requested mill, amount designated for expansions in operations, staffing and improvement: 88 percent
Number of new employees proposed in the new levy: 324.5
Levy funds designated for new staff: $49.7 million per year
Funding, per new hire: $153,158 per new employee
National average HR/benefits cost of each employee: 31 percent of employee total cost
Fact-check the data for yourself: