Local school districts have rough night at the polls

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - It was another rough election for area school districts, although two districts saw levies in a virtual tie early into the morning.

After a four year drought on the ballot, Centerville City Schools asked voters to pass a 5.9 mill additional levy.

Unofficial results show a very tight race, with 51 percent (16,736) of the votes against the levy and 49 percent (16,398) in favor of the levy. The district has a long history of levy victories, so the close race is a rarity.  District leaders told 2 NEWS that the levy's failure most likely means cuts in staff and student programs.

The story was much the same in the Beavercreek City Schools for a 6.7 mill additional emergency tax levy. The measure failed by a 34-vote margin. The district is already dipping into its reserves to make ends meet. It has been 10-years since a levy passed in Beavercreek.

Huber Heights City Schools were asking voters to say yes to an 8.0 mill operating levy. However, the levy failed by a 62 percent to 38 percent margin.

Supporters of the  Vandalia-Butler School District  were holding rallies leading up to Election Day to catch the voters' eyes. The measure in that district failed by some 1,200 votes. 

In Xenia, it was more of the same.  It failed.  34% were for the levy, while 66% were against it.  The additional tax levy for Fairborn Schools failed.  The final tally was 54% against and 46% for the levy.  "We will be meeting with the board and our administrative team and others and begin to determine cuts to educational programming.  It will result in higher school fees," said David Scarberry, Superintendent  of Fairborn Schools.

Voters were more willing to support renewal levies.  Districts including Miamisburg, Tri-County and Miami East saw renewals pass.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that since 2003, voters in November elections have approved, on average, less than a third of levies requesting new money for schools. By comparison, tax issues seeking to renew or extend current revenue for schools have a 90 percent passage rate.

For all of the school levies on the ballot, click HERE .

For complete Election Day results, click HERE .