Citizen Panel Approves Levy Request, Sets Millage

A levy likely to go before Columbus voters next year would raise $515 million over the next five years. A citizen panel approved the levy request for Columbus City Schools yesterday. The majority of new money would fund general spending priorities, with $8.5 million going to high-performing non-profit charter schools and a new preschool program every year. The 9 mil levy would mean new property of $315 a year for a home worth $100,000. That’s a 24 percent increase over current Columbus school taxes.