What’s the difference between a bond issue and a levy?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — When voters head to the polls on Election Day next Tuesday, many in central Ohio will see some kind of school levy or bond issue on the ballot.

Levies and bond issues are similar: both generate revenue for a school district.

Elisabeth Warner with the League of Women Voters of Ohio said bonds and levies can be confusing, especially since both cost taxpayers money.

“Levies pay for short-term expenses, so things like salaries, things like program costs, suppliers, and then bonds cover a more permanent thing, so buildings, big system upgrades,” Warner said.

A levy typically refers to an operating levy, which means the money goes toward day-to-day learning expenses.

“The voters are approached with those when a school district starts to see that they don’t have enough revenue to equal their projected expense,” David Varda, treasurer and CFO for the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio, said.

For bond issues, the money is used for buildings and major construction. These typically last longer than levies as well, usually decades.

Voters in Teays Valley, Jonathan Alder, Groveport Madison and Southwest Licking school districts will see bond issues at the polls.

“Bonds are for things that are probably going to last a generation, hopefully a generation, so like a new sports facility for a high school or a new library,” Warner said.

Both Varda and Warner said voters have most likely noticed more bond issues and levies on ballots over the past few years. That’s because taxpayers are footing more of the bill.

“We are seeing more levies because the local communities need to ask for more because they’re not getting it from the state level as much as they have been in the past,” Warner said.

Even though someone may feel like they just voted for a bond or levy for their district, make sure to do some research before voting Tuesday.

“You just have to be aware of the facts and you have to rely on the superintendent and treasurer for factual information,” Varda said.

When reading the ballot language on Election Day, the easiest thing to remember is that bonds are for buildings and levies are for learning.

For more information about the major levies and bond issues in central Ohio, check the links below.