News photo by Dan Trittschuh Worthington City School District Superintendent Melissa Conrath fields questions at a public forum held Thursday at Worthington Christian Church.

Only three people showed up for last week's information session on the Worthington City School District's 1.91-mill bond issue request, which will appear on the November ballot as Issue 14.

District officials said they hope the low turnout means residents understand the issue -- or plan to show up at the next information session Monday.

The next session will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at the Northwest Library, 2280 Hard Road.

The bond issue is a replacement bond, according to Treasurer Jonathan Boyd, and if approved by voters, will refinance and extend the district's current bond debt by 15 years. It will generate $37.5 million for permanent improvements such as building repairs and replacement of computers and buses.

Homeowners are paying about $116 per year for every $100,000 in home value under the old bonds, approved for $55 million in 1988 and $14.9 million in 1997. Those bonds have a current taxation rate of 3.8 mills.

Boyd said board members have committed to issuing the replacement bond in increments to keep the taxation rate at 3.8 mills, so the average taxpayer will not see an increase in taxes.

Thursday's session was held at Worthington Christian Church, with Superintendent Melissa Conrath and Boyd providing information on the bond issue. Board members Marc Schare and Jennifer Best also attended.

"We had a very low turnout, but one of the residents who attended, who was on the former superintendent's task force, said he thought people might be satisfied with the information they have on the bond issue," Conrath said. "Or perhaps the location was out of their way -- we are hoping people who still want information will show up on Monday at the Northwest Library.

"We had more than 100 people show up in August when we brought up the replacement bond idea at a public forum," Conrath said. "We've also had many parents helping us with the campaign by sending out information and handing out fliers. It may be people feel they have all the information they need."

Conrath said she and Boyd will share information on the bond issue at the beginning of Monday's meeting, then will break into small groups for questions and answers.

Boyd said people should understand the ballot language of Issue 14.

"The ballot will read '1.91 mills' for the bond issue, which is the average estimated cost in millage for the $37.5 million bond as established by the county auditor's office," Boyd said. "If we were not refinancing current bond debt, then the millage over a 15-year period would average 1.91 mills. But we do have current bond debt, so the 1.91 is not being added on top of what taxpayers are currently paying. It will be blended with the current debt obligations in such a way that the millage paid by taxpayers will not go above the current rate of 3.8 mills but will be paid for a longer period of time."

Residents also should understand the commitment board members have made, and how it could affect the list of items to be repaired or replaced, Boyd said.

"There are certain assumptions with this bond issue and there are commitments the board has made," Boyd said. "The assumptions have to do with how much of the bond money we're going to issue and what interest rate we will pay for it. Those assumptions will control the cost and ultimately flow back into how much millage is paid, but there is also the commitment to not go above 3.8 mills.

"If we find ourselves in a market where the interest rates jump high, we may not be able to issue all the bond debt indicated and stay within that 3.8 mills," Boyd said. "In that case, a repair or replacement on our list of improvements might not be made at that time. The list of what we are going to repair or replace is based on what we know today. After year three, four or five, those priorities could change. Something not as urgent could suddenly become more urgent.

"A committee will oversee the repairs and will be constantly adjusting the list based on our needs and ability to issue debt at the current rate."

Schare said he thought taxpayers might need more explanation of the 1.91 mills.

"The auditor follows the Ohio Revised Code and assumes all the bonds will be issued at the same time, at the prevailing interest rate," Schare said. "But we will be issuing the bonds over five years, so who knows what the interest rate will be -- we may choose to issue more bonds earlier if the interest rate stays low."

Schare said he posted an explanation of the ballot language on his Web site at mschare.com/bondlevy/ballotlanguageexplanation.htm.

As far as the low turnout Thursday, Schare said he wasn't surprised.

"There is no question this issue is not getting the kind of scrutiny that the May issue got, and one of the reasons why is it is not being perceived as business as usual, because we are doing something different and more creative this time," Schare said.