COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tuesday night was one of mixed results for school officials seeking help from voters.
EXTRA: See results from all 88 Ohio counties
Funding issues were approved in the Gahanna-Jefferson, Grandview Heights, Delaware, London and Liberty-Union/Thurston school districts but were turned down in New Albany, Southwest Licking, Buckeye Valley and Walnut Township.
Statewide, voters approved nearly 65 percent of school levies on ballots across the state. That is one the highest total passage rates in recent years, according to Damon Asbury, legislative director of the Ohio School Boards Association. He says voters passed 105 of the 163 school funding issues.
A combined levy request to raise more than $7 million in the New Albany/Plain Local school district was not one of them.
It was defeated by a 55-45 percent margin, according to preliminary results from the Franklin County Board of Elections.
Officials had told voters the district would have to cut make $7.5 million, including reductions in transportation, and institute a pay-to-participate program for sports and other extracurricular activities. District officials will meet to decide their next course of action.
The permanent levy request to raise $3 million for improvements in Gahanna passed by a narrow 351-vote margin.
Grandview Heights voters approved an operating levy by a 63-37 percent margin.
The Franklin County Children Services levy was approved with 70 percent of the vote.