Voters in the Huber Heights City School District on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected an additional 8-mill operating levy, according to unofficial results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

The defeat means at least 77.5 staff positions – including 31.5 teaching jobs — will be eliminated as part of $3.4 million in reductions for the 2013-14 school year that district officials outlined recently.

Gym and music classes will be reduced at the elementary level, all sports and choir will be eliminated at the junior high and electives such as foreign languages will be reduced at the high school. Another $1.6 million in cuts are likely to avoid possible state fiscal oversight.

Superintendent Sue Gunnell said she was disappointed voters didn’t approve the levy that would have generated $5.3 million annually for a continuing period of time.

This was the district’s third attempt to receive new operating money. Voters rejected a 1.5-percent earned income tax in May 2011 and an 8-mill levy last November.

“We probably still have many in our community who are struggling from the economic impact and saying, ‘I just can’t afford any more.’ I certainly can understand and respect that,” she said.

Voters haven’t approved a request for new operating money in Huber Heights since 2005. Without the new revenue, the district faces a $2.7 million deficit by 2014. It has until December to submit a detailed plan to the Ohio Department of Education on how it plans to increase revenue or outline further reductions. One option is to return to the ballot but that decision has not been made.

The proposed staff reductions also include four administrators, 33.5 paraprofessionals, 4.5 custodial positions and four bus drivers. The district also is considering at least one furlough day for all administrators.