The rejections come at a time when state lawmakers are pushing for property tax reform and many locals feel they are paying too much to schools, while schools have run out of additional COVID-19 funds and say they are facing consequences if the levies don’t pass.
Springboro City Schools voters approved a bond issue for several new buildings and additional services with 65% for the levy and 35% against the issue in final, unofficial results.
Springboro City Schools requested a 2.8-mill, $115 million bond for a new preschool through second grade school, high school updates and an athletics multi-purpose center, among other updates.
Franklin City Schools voters rejected a 1% income tax with 60.4% against the levy and 39.6% for the levy in final results. District officials have said they may face state takeover if this levy does not pass.
Franklin City Schools is requesting a 1% income tax levy, which would generate roughly $6.4 million annually. This is the third time that Franklin schools have gone to the ballot in the last year to request money from voters. Both previous levy requests were soundly rejected.
The school district is facing fiscal emergency, the most severe rating of fiscal crisis in Ohio schools, after state funding to the district was cut in the latest state budget, officials said.
Franklin and Jefferson Twp. schools each asked for the second time for voters to approve a levy meant for the general fund. Leaders in both districts say they are worried about the long-term financial stability of the district if voters do not approve the levy.
Jefferson Twp. Local Schools is asking for a three-year, 1% income tax that would generate just under $1 million per year for the district.
In May, Jefferson Twp. voters rejected a 1.5%, ongoing income tax, which would have brought in $1.4 million per year for the schools, according to the district. About 31% of voters approved the levy, while 69% were opposed, according to the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Jefferson Twp. district treasurer Craig Jones said the district is at risk of being in financial oversight from the state if the levy does not pass. The district’s entire budget was about $8.3 million last school year, and this school year is projected to be about $8.5 million.
In Carlisle Local Schools, 50.4% of voters voted against reapealing an 1% income tax and 49.6% voted for repealing the tax in final results. This year, the district received about $3.7 million from that tax.
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