Issue 14 is the 1.91-mill bond issue requested by the Worthington City School District. If approved by voters, it will refinance and extend the district's current bond debt by 15 years and generate $37.5 million for permanent improvements such as bus, technology and building repairs.

Called a "no new millage" bond issue by the district, Issue 14 is a replacement bond designed to keep taxes at the same rate residents are currently paying, which is 3.8 mills.

Treasurer Jonathan Boyd said school board members have committed to issuing the new bond issue in increments to keep the taxation rate the same, so the average taxpayer will not see an increase in taxes.

Homeowners currently pay 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. If Issue 14 is not approved, that amount gradually would decrease as the bonds are paid off or retired, Boyd said. If the issue passes, the average taxpayer will not pay more than the estimated $116 per year per $100,000 in home value, but the bond debt will be paid off over a longer period of time, he said.

Boyd said the 1.91 mills is part of the ballot language of the bond issue, as the estimated cost in millage.

"If we were not refinancing current bond debt, then the millage over a 15-year period would average 1.91 mills," Boyd said last week. "But because we are refinancing current bond debt, the 1.91 mills is not being added on top of what taxpayers are currently paying. It will be blended with the current debt obligations so that the millage taxpayers are paying won't go above 3.8 mills."

Superintendent Melissa Conrath said board members asked her to find ways to cut the district budget when the 6.25-mill combined operating levy and permanent-improvement request on the May ballot was turned down by voters.

With her "Reduce, Rethink and Recalculate" policy, Conrath found $1.1 million in immediate cuts and planned $1.8 million in additional cuts. Both amounts would be saved each year, she said.

Conrath said the cuts, as well as extra revenue in delinquent tangible tax collection, allowed the district to delay the levy request they thought would be needed this year, until next year or beyond.

Conrath said $10 million from the bond issue will replace expenses for capital improvements that currently are being drawn from the general budget, which also could result in a lower levy request when it is made.

The rest of the bond funds will be spent on replacing old buses, old computers and making building repairs that have long been put off, Conrath said.