The new levy is a five-year, 6.15-mill emergency measure to pay for daily operating expenses, and will cost the owner of a $100,000 home an extra $215.25 per year. There were 6,052 votes for the levy and 5,332 votes against, for a 53-47 ratio in favor.
This levy followed the same pattern as Beavercreek’s 2017 substitute levy, which was very narrowly rejected on the first try, then passed six months later. This time, voters narrowly rejected an almost identical new levy (6.2 mills) in November, by a vote of 50.3 percent to 49.7 percent, before approving this one.
MORE DETAILS: Beavercreek cites unfunded mandates as key to levy
The district adjusted to that November vote by approving $2.6 million in cuts for next school year, including 15 teacher cuts, course reductions in foreign language, art and engineering, and higher pay-to-play fees.
Superintendent Paul Otten has said that those cuts will not be reinstated as a result of this new levy passage, but Tuesday’s vote means the district will avoid further cuts this summer.
FEBRUARY: Beavercreek school board approves budget cuts
“For our budget, looking ahead at the five-year forecast and seeing what’s projected in the next three or five years, the need is there now,” associate superintendent Jason Enix said. “Even if there is a state funding increase, it wouldn’t overcome (the projected deficits).”
Otten has said the new levy will merely maintain the status quo, not add new programs.
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