State ex rel. Board of Education v. Wheeler (152 Ohio St. 101, 1949)

By the Court.

The first paragraph of Section 2293-15a, General Code, reads, in part:

“In school districts where school buildings have been * * * condemned by duly constituted public authority, * * * and where existing limitations make adequate replacement * * * or improvements impossible as determined by the local board of education, such board'may declare an emergency. Upon the declaration of an emergency, the local board of education, in accordance with law, shall place before the electors of the district the question of issuing bonds for the replacement * * * of * * * school buildings. The form of the ballot shall describe the emergency existing, the authority under which it is declared, and shall state that the bond issue for emergency purposes is beyond the limitations heretofore prescribed by law and that electors are to express their wishes yes or no. If 65 per centum of the electors voting on the question of such bonds vote in favor thereof, the taxing authority of the school district shall have authority to issue such bonds in accordance with the provisions of this section, the uniform bond act of Ohio and the General Code and the debt service levies for such bonds shall be outside of all limitations on the tax rate.” (Emphasis supplied.)

Other provisions of that section and the Uniform Bond Act will be set forth and discussed later.

The first contention of respondent is that there was no condemnation authorizing the board of education to act under Section 2293-15a, General Code, in view of the fact that the order of the Department of Industrial Delations in item numbered three “recommended” that the use of the structure be permanently discontinued not later than June 1949. Despondent does not, however, discuss the effect of the later language of the order reading, “item three to be complied within eighteen months.”

“Condemn” is defined as follows in Webster’s New International Dictionary (2 Ed.): “To adjudge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service. ’ ’

The order was sufficient to condemn the use of the school building and to warrant the board of education declaring an emergency. See Section 4834-10, General Code.

Respondent insists that the board of education failed to comply with the 60-day requirement of Section 2293-19, General Code (118 Ohio Laws, 20), for certifying a bond resolution to the county auditor. The third paragraph of Section 2293-15&, General Code (118 Ohio Laws, 703, 707), provides that a resolution declaring the necessity shall be certified to the county auditor “at least thirty days prior to the election * * *.” Being a later enactment applying to a particular subject, i. e., emergency school bonds, the 30-day provision of Section 2293-15o applies and not the 60-day period of Section 2293-19. Therefore, the resolution of necessity was certified to the county auditor within the proper limitation of time.

The respondent contends that the notice of election was incomplete in not stating “the estimated average additional tax rate, expressed in dollars and cents for each dollar of valuation.” The fifth paragraph of Section 2293-15a provides that the election on the question of issuing bonds shall be held under the provisions of Sections 2293-21, 2293-22 and 2293-23