Levy Fails 4255 to 4168

Election Summary Report Butler County, Ohio Special Election Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races Unofficial Election Results

08/07/07 21:42:03

Registered Voters 29203 - Cards Cast 8503 29.12%

Num. Report Precinct 38 - Num. Reporting 38 100.00%

1 - MIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOLS Total Number of Precincts 38 Precincts Reporting 38 100.0 % Total Votes 8423 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY 4255 50.52% FOR THE TAX LEVY 4168 49.48%

Pacman wrote: Price and the BOE have no one to blame but themselves in this matter.  The issues should have been separated, one being the renewal which would have probably passed and the other being the increase.   The students should look to the School Admin and the BOE, if they want to place blame anywhere, for this failure and the cuts that were made and not the residents of Middletown.

I recall Dr. Price stating that the reason the BOE couldn't seperate the renewal and the increase is that there are limited amounts of issues they can put on the ballot yearly, yet they don't seem shy about hitting us with this vote every 3 months until we pass it. They've already discussed putting it on the ballot again in November, and I don't see how it could possibly fail if they do, as the supporters of the levy were over 8% closer to passing it yesterday than they were in May. More campaigning and more guilting and they'll have their levy passed come November.

I think they should have seperated the renewal money from the new money. Now they are left with nothing.

It was just strongarm tactics, and now the students suffer for it. The taxpayers in Middletown have once again shown their disapproval for how things are being done, but rather than admit error the BOE will just push harder in November.

A recent statement from school board president John Venturella suggests that maybe they're finally getting some sense.

School Board to Separate Renewal and Increase in November

And what does the Mysterious Citizens Finance Committee recommend once again:

Packman brought to my attention tha the committee recommends keeping the renewal and new money together on the same issue.

I have it on good authority that unless something changes between now and tomorrow morning the levy will be split, but you never know around here.