Jason Enix, the Huber Heights superintendent, said election night was a roller coaster. Initial results indicated the school levy would fail, but later results were much closer.
“We’re cautiously optimistic and obviously thrilled with the number of people who supported us,” Enix said.
He said the district will “anxiously await” everything being certified.
The Jefferson Twp. School levy, a 1.5% income tax for a continuing period of time, trailed with 69% against the tax and 31% for the tax in unofficial, final results.
The levy was expected to generate about $1.4 million per year and would have cost someone earning $50,000 and living in the district $750 annually, according to the district. The funds would have gone toward operating expenses such as electricity, heat and salaries.
Passing levies
Oakwood, Northmont, New Lebanon and Mad River schools all saw the requests for school levies pass.
Northmont schools voted 64.2% for an additional 3.44 mills tax levy and 35.8% against in unofficial, final results. The levy would cost homeowners $120 per $100,000 in property valuation a year. School officials say the new money is needed to maintain the district‘s current offerings.
District officials said additional education about how school funding works helped convince voters to support the levy. This was the third time Northmont had asked for the levy, with the other two times in 2023.
“We’re proud of the work the Citizens for Northmont did to educate our community about school funding and the needs of our district,” said Northmont superintendent Tony Thomas. “We will continue to give our students amazing opportunities while being good stewards of the taxpayer dollars we’ve been entrusted with.”
Oakwood Schools, with a 4.74 mill bond issue on the ballot, received 57.7% in favor of a tax levy and 42.3% against in unofficial, final results. For Oakwood’s 33-year, 4.74-mill bond issue, school officials say 85% of the money would pay to update Smith and Harman elementary schools, plus some targeted projects at Oakwood High School/Junior High School and Lange School. The levy would cost taxpayers $165.90 a year per $100,000 in appraised home value, said school officials.
Oakwood board president John Wilson said he was grateful to Oakwood voters for their approval.
“This is a great day for Oakwood,” he said. “Over many years, the community has shown its consistent support for our schools and our students’ futures. We’re deeply grateful and ready to get to work delivering on the promise of this bond.”
Mad River Schools, with an additional 2.9 mills issue, received 51.5% votes in favor of the tax levy and 48.5% against in unofficial, final results. The same levy the district put on the ballot last year did not pass. The levy would cost taxpayers $102 annually for every $100,000 of appraised property value, according to school officials.
“We would like to thank our community for showing their support at the polls on May 6,” said Chad Wyen. “With the passage of the 2.9-mill permanent improvement levy, we can continue to maintain and invest in our beautiful school facilities for years to come.”
New Lebanon local schools, which is seeking a renewal of 0.75% of income tax over five years, passed 57% to 43% in unofficial, final results. Previously, the five-year, 0.75% renewal income tax levy was rejected by a fairly wide margin (42% for and 58% against), according to official results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
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