Voters in the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek school district, who had rejected three straight levies amid antagonistic campaigns, approved a seven-year, 4.9-mill property tax increase by a 53-47 ratio.
“This will bring some long-term financial stability for us, so we get off this roller-coaster ride of (levies) and having to do reductions to save money,” Bellbrook Superintendent Doug Cozad said.
Voters in Xenia approved both a renewal levy and a large bond issue to replace the 1960s-era Warner Middle School. Voters had rejected previous bond requests, both in 2016-17, and last November, before approving this one by a 52-48 ratio.
“This has been a long process, but I truly feel that we listened to our community throughout the planning, and that was evident in the outcome,” Xenia Superintendent Gabe Lofton said.
** Beavercreek voters, who had rejected two permanent substitute levies last year, easily approved the schools’ revised request, a simple five-year renewal.
** Preble Shawnee voters approved a five-year 0.75% school income tax increase after multiple previous rejections.
** Springboro voters approved a new, permanent 2-mill levy, but with no cost increase, because an older 2-mill measure is expiring.
** Fairborn voters converted an older levy to a permanent substitute levy, and basic renewal levies were approved in the Troy, Lebanon and Tri-County North school districts.
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