LOUDONVILLE — The Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village School District will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve a 0.25% income tax for current expenses and a $16.4 million bond issue for school renovations.
The approximate $38.5 million plan will go toward renovations and improvements at R.F. McMullen Elementary School and Loudonville High School. The improvements would include adding air conditioning, accessibility improvements, safety upgrades and more space for music and athletics.
The new proposal follows two failed facilities issues in November 2024 and May 2025. The district says it developed the revised plan in response to community feedback from Fall 2025.
According to the Master Facilities Plan, the residents’ priorities included:
- Preserve R.F. McMullen Elementary School.
- Renovate and use existing buildings.
- Keep costs as manageable as possible and explore funding options that do not fall solely on property owners.
- Improve safety by eliminating the open campus at Loudonville High School, adding sprinkler systems and improving the flow of traffic.
- Expand space for music and athletics.
- Add air conditioning and HVAC.
- Address athletic gym space.
- Increase accessibility for ADA compliance.
What would the taxes fund?
The ballot issue includes two parts of the proposal. The 0.25% income tax would be collected for 30 years, starting Jan. 1, 2027 and used for current expenses.
The Master Facilities plan estimates the tax would generate approximately $7.2 million. The tax would cost $125 per $50,000 of income.
The bond issue would provide $16.4 million for the renovations and additions to the schools. The bonds would be repaid over a maximum of 37 years. The property taxes estimated to average 2.85 mills over the repayment period.
The 2.85-mill property tax would cost $100 per year for every $100,000 of market value.
Combined, the two generate a $23.6 million local share of the $38.5 million plan.
The plan is estimated to cost about $38.5 million, nearly $31 million less than the November 2024 proposal.
This revised plan lists about $12.1 million in district contributions and $2.8 million in certificates of participations (COPS). The remaining $23.6 million is listed as the local share.
What does the facilities plan include?
Superintendent Jennifer Allerding held a community information session and building tour at McMullen Elementary in September during a heat wave. During this time, residents were invited to see the building and learn about the proposed improvements.
The information session shared the district’s concerns about classroom temperatures. During the meeting, Allerding described classrooms reaching temperatures in the 80s.
She also said the building’s electrical system was at capacity, which limits the district’s ability to add window air conditioners, and that McMullen did not have a sprinkler system.
Air conditioning and fire-safety upgrades are some of the proposed improvements at McMullen and the high school campus.
At McMullen, the plan also includes classroom renovations, parking and traffic-flow improvements and a gym addition to host junior high events. The existing gym would be upgraded for therapy spaces.
The high school campus plan includes enclosing walkways between buildings, adding a cafeteria and auditorium, expanding the band room, adding a practice gym and improving classroom and restroom accessibility.
The plan is to move fourth grade to the campus with grades 5 and 6. The goal is to create a unified intermediate and middle school structure for grades 4 through 8.
Budd Elementary would no longer house students. Allerding said the district has not decided what will happen to the building, but would continue exploring options as more information becomes available.
Allerding said many of the facilities are in need of upgrades, but the main concern is finding what the residents want for the schools.
“We’re trying to do what we need to do, but we’re also trying to be very fiscally responsible,” Allerding said.
Voters will decide on the issue during the Nov. 3 general election.
