School issue results: Voters reject building projects in Goshen, Northwest; pass CPS levy

Voters in southwest Ohio rejected nine of 12 school issues and passed three school tax levies on Tuesday.

In Hamilton County, the only tax levy that passed was for Cincinnati Public Schools. Voters passed two of Warren County's three school issues Tuesday night, for Kings and Lebanon school districts, according to unofficial election results. In Clermont and Butler counties, all five school issues failed.

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Failed bond issues at Goshen and Northwest districts complicate plans both school systems have to build new facilities. At Goshen, more space is needed to address the community's growing population. At Northwest, superintendent Darrell Yater says some of the district's buildings are old enough to have outlasted three Reds stadiums.

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Voters rejected a 4.98-mill bond issue at Northwest Local Schools, according to unofficial election results. The district had hoped to fund a $175.8 million building project with the money if it passed, adding two new schools and renovating other school buildings.

Three of the district's buildings were built in 2018, while the other eight were built before 2000 and as far back as 1923, Yater said in a video on the district's website. The state evaluated the district's buildings and determined seven of the older buildings should be replaced as opposed to being renovated.

"The Reds have been through three stadiums and our students are still being educated in Colerain Elementary," Yater said in the video. "In order to be cost-effective and use the community's resources wisely, we need to invest in new facilities."

Voters disagreed.

Voters also went against a levy at Winton Woods and Loveland City Schools, but passed a 10-year tax levy renewal for Cincinnati Public Schools. Voters rejected a tax levy hike at Winton Woods in May 2021, too.

Here's the breakdown with 100% of precincts reporting:

• Loveland City School District levy failed 54% to 46%.

• Cincinnati Public Schools levy passed 68% to 32%.

• Winton Woods City School District levy failed 62% to 38%.

• Northwest Local Schools bond issue failed 64% to 36%.

CPS has used five-year levies in the past, district treasurer Jennifer Wagner said during a May 9 school board meeting. Extending this levy to a 10-year cycle, as opposed to a five-year cycle, will prevent the district from having its three operating levies up for renewal in four years between 2027 and 2030.

"That's what we're trying to get away from, is that levy fatigue on the taxpayers, the voters, as well as the district," Wagner said during the May 9 meeting. The 10-year cycle would make for three levy renewals over a seven-year period. "It's much more palatable, it's easier to plan long-term and it gives us a little bit more financial stability."

Warren County election results: Voters pass two of three school issues

Levies at Kings Local School District and Lebanon City School District passed, while a tax levy at Franklin City Schools did not. Here's the breakdown with 100% of precincts reporting:

• Kings Local Schools levy passed 55% to 45%.

• Lebanon City Schools levy passed 54% to 46%.

• Franklin City Schools levy failed 55% to 45%.

Kings Local School District's 6.4-mill levy will raise $7.5 million annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 house an additional $224 annually.

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Lebanon City Schools' 9.6-mill levy for 10 years will combine three existing levies from 2005, 2011 and 2019 into one. The levies will continue to raise $12.2 million annually and do not raise taxes.

The levy that did not pass at Franklin City Schools was a 13.39-mill levy that would have raised $7.75 million annually for five years and would not have increased taxes.

Clermont County election results: Voters reject all three school issues

None of the school issues in Clermont County were approved by voters Tuesday night.

Here's the breakdown with 100% of precincts reporting:

• Blanchester Local Schools levy failed 62% to 38% in Clermont County. Most voters on this issue live in Clinton County, where the levy also failed 53% to 47%.

• Felicity-Franklin Local Schools levy failed 55% to 45%.

• Goshen Local Schools bond issue failed 61% to 39%.

Goshen had a bond issue on the ballot in 2019, which also failed.

The district's 7.2-mill bond issue would have raised $49.9 million to pay for a new 93,239-square-foot school for students in grades 4-6. The levy would have also paid for classroom additions totaling 19,400 square feet at the high school, and renovations to the district’s other three buildings.

Goshen schools are currently 400 students over capacity, the district's website states, and the township is growing.

"Lack of space is already impacting the delivery of a quality Goshen education. Classes are held in a locker room, libraries, a modified closet, trailers, and any other available space. The district is currently in a time where making decisions on new or updated academic programs are based solely on space availability," the website states. "Delaying a bond issue would mostly likely mean higher construction costs in the future, and would not address current overcrowding problems and predicted enrollment growth."

Butler County election results: Voters reject both school tax levies

Voters in Butler County went against school tax levies Tuesday night, according to unofficial election results.

About two-thirds of voters went against the tax levy at Talawanda City School District, and nearly the same amount declined a tax levy at Ross Local School District.

Here's the breakdown with 100% of precincts reporting:

• Talawanda City School District levy failed 66% to 34%.

• Ross Local School District levy failed 61% to 39%.

Both of the levies would have raised taxes if they passed, by $199.50 for Talawanda Schools and by $280 for Ross Local Schools.

Enquirer contributor Sue Kiesewetter assisted with this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: School issue results 2022: Did my school's levy pass?