Voters turn down East Muskingum School levy

ZANESVILLE − In unofficial results from the Muskingum County and Guernsey County boards of elections, voters in the East Muskingum Local Schools District have voted against a levy supporting the district. Officials had hoped an emergency operating levy totaling 4.9 mills would provide almost $2 million in funds for the school district. The levy failed 607 votes for vs 879 votes against in Muskingum County, and 278 for to 400 against in Guernsey County.

East Muskingum Local Schools board member Matt Abbott said "the vote didn't turn out the way we had hoped, but we will go back to the drawing board and reassess our current financial state and all of the external factors that come into school funding for public schools." The board has a work session planned, as well as their regularly scheduled meeting on May 11. "We will discuss a multitude of different options to move the district forward and make decision that are keeping the students our district first and foremost."

In the western part of Muskingum County, voters in Hopewell Township voted for a levy to support fire and EMS services in the township, as 96 people voted in favor of the levy to 33 against. The levy is a combination of a 1 mill renewal and a .5 mill increase. The Muskingum County Auditor's office said the levy will cost $53 for each $100,000 of taxable value. The levy is for five years.

Utility aggregation for both gas and electric passed in the Village of Gratiot. A total of three votes were cast in favor of each, with none voting against.

With no contested council races in Zanesville, only voters in the city's precinct 1-A had anything to vote for on Tuesday. They voted in favor of Sunday liquor sales for Cracker Barrel, 11 votes to 8.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Voters turn down East Muskingum School levy