Troy's Hayner Center Asks Voters to Support Property Tax Levy

Vol. III, No. 132 - 0.85 mill levy to appear on ballot in the Troy City School District to support center

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This publication at it’s heart is about giving a platform to civic issues. The leadership of the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center reached out and wanted to share their upcoming levy information with our audience, which is the whole mission of this effort. So, without any further delay, here is the information provided by the Hayner’s Campaign Committee for their upcoming levy:

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center has been the premier Arts Center in Troy since its opening in 1976. To date, the Center has hosted over 3,675 exhibits, concerts and special events and 2,750 art classes. Over 900 local clubs & organizations have held meetings at Hayner and approximately 1,415,172 guests have visited the Hayner.

Almost every Troy resident has a Hayner memory of a time they visited the House. For many, Hayner has been the place where one celebrates special life events such as a beautiful Courtyard or East Room wedding, celebrating a special birthday or hosting family and friends for a milestone anniversary. Others may have been inspired by an exhibit that features a beautiful work of art or a musical presentation by a gifted musician. Or perhaps you discovered your hidden artistic talent, or refined that talent, by taking a watercolor or oil painting class. And since 1977, thousands of young ballerinas remember coming to the Hayner every week to study ballet with Miss Cyndy, and she is still teaching at the Hayner today!

Most likely everyone in Troy has enjoyed a Hayner sponsored Friday night Downtown Summer Concert on Prouty Plaza or strolled through the Southwest Historic District to listen to their favorite band during Hayner’s annual PorchFest event. If you are a member of the Troy Lions Club, Altrusa International, 4H of Miami County or other local club or organization, you have called Hayner your home for regular meetings and special events for many years.

The Hayner motto is: “It’s Everyone’s House” and we strive each day to make the Hayner a place where you always feel welcome and at home each time you visit. Exhibits and concerts at the Hayner are always free of charge and open to the public as are many of the special events we host throughout the year. The Hayner is able to provide most programming free because of the generous support of the Troy City School residents as shown by their approval of an operating levy every five years

The Hayner 0.85 mill levy on the November 4^th ballot is a renewal of the current levy with no new taxes requested. Please support the Hayner with a “YES” vote on November 4th!!

What is the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center?

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center was established on Election Day 1976. Formerly the home of Mary Jane Hayner, it is a treasured landmark in Troy and is used by the public as a community cultural center. Over 30,000 people visit or participate in Hayner programming annually. The Hayner Center is celebrating its 49th year of operation. This year, 2025, marks the 111th year since it was built in 1914. It is listed in the National Register of Historical Places and in 2014 was awarded the “Institution of the Year Award” by the Ohio Museum Association.

The facilities of the Center are available at no charge for community use by local non-profits serving the Troy area and by rental for private events and parties. In addition, the Hayner Center is committed to providing a variety of cultural, artistic and educational opportunities to the Citizens of Troy. On average, the Hayner Center annually hosts 8 exhibits and over 75 community events including concerts, performing arts events, children and family activities, social events, films and much more. The Hayner also sponsors concerts on the Downtown Summer Music Series held each summer on the Troy City square, Hayner Hits the Road Travel Club, and the Troy, Ohio PorchFest.

Some statistics since opening our doors in 1976 include:

Number of visitors to the Hayner: Approximately 1,415,172

Number of exhibits & special events: Approximately 3,675

Number of classes offered: Approximately 2,750

Number of clubs & organizations meeting at Hayner: Approximately 900

The Mission:

To preserve the Hayner mansion as a cultural resource for the present and as an historical legacy for future generations of the community of Troy, Ohio.

The Vision:

Mrs. Hayner left her home to the community in 1942 in care of the Troy Board of Education. In 1976, after housing the public library for many years, a citizens’ committee proposed that the building be used as a community cultural center and that the citizens should be asked to support Hayner with a tax levy. The Hayner levy has been renewed or replaced every five years since 1976.

How important is the levy?

The 0.85 mill renewal levy is absolutely essential to the continued operation of the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center. The levy provides approximately 75% of Hayner’s operating, maintenance and programming budget. The 0.85 mill renewal levy will generate $663,817 annually for the next five years. The remaining 25% of Hayner’s income is derived from donations, fees and grants. Donations to Friends of Hayner play an important role in helping to keep the tax rate as low as possible. Tax support helps us keep the building staffed, well-maintained and equipped for public use, and enables us to provide high quality programs, activities and exhibitions, all free and open to the public. Currently it costs approximately $2,161 per day to operate the Hayner Center.

Who Runs the Hayner Center?

Although the building was left in care of the Troy Board of Education, the Hayner Center is operated by a Board of Governors composed of nine Troy citizens, including a School Board representative. Decisions about what will take place at the Hayner and how it operates are made by the Board of Governors and carried out by Hayner staff and assisted by volunteers. The levy income that supports the Hayner Center is a separate Troy City Schools levy and held in a separate accounting line. The School Treasurer provides oversight of the public funds and Hayner levy money cannot be used for the public schools’ mandates.

How much will the proposed levy cost a home owner?

MARKET VALUE 0.85 MILL PER YEAR

$100,000 $20.52

$150,000 $30.77

$200,000 $41.03

The estimated cost to property owners is provided by the office of the

Miami County Auditor, Matthew W. Gearhardt

Exhibit Highlights

• Through Our Eyes Photography Exhibition, a community competition.

• Annual Student Art Show: Young Masters, Juneteenth Art Exhibit & Congressional Art Competition.

• Fine Art Exhibits featuring award winning national, regional and local artists working in watercolor, print making, oil paint ing, photography, metal sculpture, turned wood, fiber arts, illustration, pottery, and colored pencil.

• Historic Exhibits such as Pieces from the Past: The Historic Grilliot Collection, Remembering Lincoln, Historically Speaking: Troy City Schools, Racing Around Town: The Soap Box Derby, History of Music in Troy, Troy Women: Ahead of the Vote, and It Was Made in Troy.

• Award winning traveling exhibits such as: Flower Power, Imagining A Better World: The Artwork of Nelly Toll and Young at Art: A Selection of Caldecott Book Illustrations.

• Creative and educational Holiday exhibits including: Christmas Celebrations and Legends of Christmas.

Programming Highlights

• Year-round concerts and performing arts programs given by professional touring artists in a variety of musical styles.

• Family Fun Days including Boo Bash and Holiday Open House and in-school performing arts programs and workshops.

• Collaboration with local University faculty to present the Drawing Room Chamber Concert Series.

• Friday Night Film Series.

• Summer art day camp and home school art classes.

• A showcase for local talent such as the Community Concert Series and a venue for many student recitals.

• Collaborative participation in community events such as Downtown Troy Summer Music Series, Main Street events such as “Streets Alive” and “Sculptures on the Square”.

• Hayner Hits the Road Travel Club and the Troy, Ohio PorchFest.

The 2025 Board of Governors include: Lauren Karch, President, Joe Fulker, Vice President, Jim Riley, Treasurer, Julie McMiller, Secretary, Judy Detter, Troy Historical Society Representative, Sarah Davis, Troy City Schools Representative, Ginny Beamish, Jill Hartman and Zachary Allan.

This infromation was provided by Troy-Hayner Cultural Central Operatiing Levy Committee, Carol Jackson, Treasurer, Mike and Ginny Beamish, Chairpersons. No taxpayer dollars are used in this campaign.

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