Questions and Answers

Have a question about the levy? You’re in the right place. Below are direct answers to what Upper Arlington voters are asking about this November’s measure.

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The Basics

This November, UA voters decide whether to rebuild and renovate Hastings Middle School, Jones Middle School, and Burbank Early Childhood School. The measure combines a bond issue, which funds construction, and an operating levy, which funds day-to-day district operations.

These three schools are the final phase of the Master Facilities Plan UA voters approved in 2017. The high school and all five elementary schools have already been rebuilt or renovated under that plan. Hastings, Jones, and Burbank are next, and waiting only increases what it will cost to finish the job.

See below.

If the levy doesn’t pass, Hastings, Jones, and Burbank continue operating in buildings well past their expected and useful life. The district still faces more than $124 million in repair costs just to keep these buildings running, with none of the improvements this measure provides. The district would need to return to voters with a future ballot measure to address these facilities.

Learn more here!

ABOUT THE PROJECT

At Hastings, the District will rebuild the school on the current athletic field site at a cost of $110.8 million. Design will begin in 2027, construction will begin in 2028, and the new building will be usable for the 2030–2031 school year. During construction, students will remain in the current Hastings building, since the new school will be built on the adjacent field rather than the existing footprint. You can learn more about the Master Facilities Plan at the district’s page here.

At Jones, the District will rebuild the school while retaining the original 1923 building at a cost of $135.25 million. Design will begin in 2027, construction will begin in spring 2028, and the new building will be usable during the 2030–2031 school year. During construction, students will be off-site: 7th and 8th graders at a new addition to Upper Arlington High School, and 6th graders in modular classrooms at Tremont Elementary. You can learn more about the Master Facilities Plan at the district’s page here.

At Burbank, the District will rebuild the school just behind its current footprint, adding four additional classrooms, at a cost of $39.45 million. Design will begin in 2027, construction will begin in 2028, and the new building will be usable for the 2029–2030 school year. During construction, students will remain in the current Burbank building while the new one is built nearby. You can learn more about the Master Facilities Plan at the district’s page here.

Design work begins in 2027, followed by bidding in 2028, and construction running through 2028–2031.

Hastings students remain in their current building during construction, since the new building is being built on the adjacent athletic field site. Burbank students remain largely on-site as well. Jones students will be relocated during construction: 7th and 8th graders to a dedicated area at Upper Arlington High School, and 6th graders to modular classrooms at Tremont Elementary.

DOLLARS & SENSE

To fund the construction at Hastings, Jones, and Burbank, the District is asking voters to approve a $273.5 million bond issue, which would result in an estimated 2.25 mill increase to the current bond tax rate. The bond issue would be combined with an operating levy of 4.9 mills. If approved, this would increase the property tax of a $500,000 home (as valued by the county auditor) by approximately $1,250.

Ohio offers property tax relief specifically for seniors through the Homestead Exemption, which shields a portion of a home’s appraised value from taxation for qualifying homeowners age 65 and older (and disabled homeowners of any age), based on income. For accurate, up-to-date details and applications, visit the websites below:

Construction costs in central Ohio have climbed sharply in recent years, driven by rising material costs, labor shortages, and tariffs on materials like steel and aluminum. Locally, Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center tower saw construction costs escalate enough during the project to concern its own Board of Trustees, and the new terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport has grown from an original estimate of roughly $1 billion to nearly $2 billion since it was first proposed. Every year UA waits, Hastings, Jones, and Burbank only get more expensive to build.

This is how we keep the promises this community has made to every UA child, and to each other. A vote FOR the levy is a vote for all of Upper Arlington.

GET INVOLVED

What’s on the ballot this November?

This November, UA voters decide whether to rebuild and renovate Hastings Middle School, Jones Middle School, and Burbank Early Childhood School. The measure combines a bond issue, which funds construction, and an operating levy, which funds day-to-day district operations.

Why now?

These three schools are the final phase of the Master Facilities Plan UA voters approved in 2017. The high school and all five elementary schools have already been rebuilt or renovated under that plan. Hastings, Jones, and Burbank are next, and waiting only increases what it will cost to finish the job.

What does this cost me?

To fund the construction at Hastings, Jones, and Burbank, the District is asking voters to approve a $273.5 million bond issue, which would result in an estimated 2.25 mill increase to the current bond tax rate. The bond issue would be combined with an operating levy of 4.9 mills. If approved, this would increase the property tax of a $500,000 home (as valued by the county auditor) by approximately $1,250.

Why combine a bond with a levy?

If the levy doesn’t pass, Hastings, Jones, and Burbank continue operating in buildings well past their expected and useful life. The district still faces more than $124 million in repair costs just to keep these buildings running, with none of the improvements this measure provides. The district would need to return to voters with a future ballot measure to address these facilities.

How do I vote?

Learn more about voting on the Voting page.

What’s happening at Hastings?

At Hastings, the District will rebuild the school on the current athletic field site at a cost of $110.8 million. Design will begin in 2027, construction will begin in 2028, and the new building will be usable for the 2030-2031 school year. During construction, students will remain in the current Hastings building, since the new school will be built on the adjacent field rather than the existing footprint.

What’s happening at Jones?

At Jones, the District will rebuild the school while retaining the original 1923 building at a cost of $135.25 million. Design will begin in 2027, construction will begin in spring 2028, and the new building will be usable during the 2030-2031 school year. During construction, students will be off-site: 7th and 8th graders at a new addition to Upper Arlington High School, and 6th graders in modular classrooms at Tremont Elementary.

What’s happening at Burbank?

At Burbank, the District will rebuild the school just behind its current footprint, adding four additional classrooms, at a cost of $39.45 million. Design will begin in 2027, construction will begin in 2028, and the new building will be usable for the 2029-2030 school year. During construction, students will remain in the current Burbank building while the new one is built nearby.

What’s the timeline and where do students go during construction?

Design work begins in 2027, followed by bidding in 2028, and construction running through 2028-2031. Hastings students remain in their current building during construction, since the new building is being built on the adjacent athletic field site. Burbank students remain largely on-site as well. Jones students will be relocated during construction: 7th and 8th graders to a dedicated area at Upper Arlington High School, and 6th graders to modular classrooms at Tremont Elementary.

How are homeowners impacted?

To fund the construction at Hastings, Jones, and Burbank, the District is asking voters to approve a $273.5 million bond issue, which would result in an estimated 2.25 mill increase to the current bond tax rate. The bond issue would be combined with an operating levy of 4.9 mills. If approved, this would increase the property tax of a $500,000 home (as valued by the county auditor) by approximately $1,250.

What about seniors?

Ohio offers property tax relief specifically for seniors through the Homestead Exemption, which shields a portion of a home’s appraised value from taxation for qualifying homeowners age 65 and older (and disabled homeowners of any age), based on income.

Why do construction costs keep rising the longer we wait?

Construction costs in central Ohio have climbed sharply in recent years, driven by rising material costs, labor shortages, and tariffs on materials like steel and aluminum. Locally, Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center tower saw construction costs escalate enough during the project to concern its own Board of Trustees, and the new terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport has grown from an original estimate of roughly $1 billion to nearly $2 billion since it was first proposed. Every year UA waits, Hastings, Jones, and Burbank only get more expensive to build.