Only three of the school tax measures on the November 3 ballot in Southwest Ohio passed, leaving nine districts to make difficult financial decisions in the months ahead, WXIX reported.
The three winners were Cincinnati Public Schools, Sycamore Community Schools and Lakota Local Schools, according to WXIX. Cincinnati Public, the third-largest district in Ohio, passed a five-year, 7-mill property tax levy by about 26,500 votes, WXIX reported; the Cincinnati Enquirer reported the levy passed with about 60% support. It is expected to raise $66.33 million a year and cost property owners $245 for every $100,000 of appraised value, according to WXIX.
Sycamore’s combined 6.95-mill continuing property tax levy passed with 57% support, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Lakota’s 2.2-mill bond issue for its master facilities plan passed by fewer than 1,500 votes, WXIX reported; the Enquirer put Lakota’s support at 51%. The Cincinnati Exchange reported the Lakota bond totals $223 million over 37 years and begins collecting in 2029, after an existing bond expires.
The pattern in the failures was income taxes. None of the income tax levies proposed by districts in the region passed, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. North College Hill’s 1.25% income tax failed again, and its superintendent, Eugene Blalock, said in a statement reported by WXIX that the district would present a financial plan for a $1.8 million reduction for the 2027-28 school year. Northwest Local’s 1.5% income tax failed with 57% against it, and Southwest Local’s 0.25% earned income tax failed with 63% against it, according to the Enquirer.
For Cincinnati Public, the win is significant beyond the dollar figure. WKRC reported the levy is the district’s first new money in 10 years and that it passed 60% to 39%. Superintendent Shauna Murphy said in a press release quoted by the Cincinnati Enquirer, “With the passage of Issue 4, we can protect the progress our schools are making and keep working toward the promise we have made to every child.” WKRC also reported Murphy cautioned that the new money will not immediately restore everything cut over the last three years.
What happens next splits by result. Districts whose levies passed move to implementation — Cincinnati Public’s new revenue begins in 2027, and Sycamore’s board planned to keep reviewing its position at meetings beginning with a November 9 work session, WXIX reported. The nine districts whose measures failed face budget-reduction plans, and several have already signaled they will present those plans to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in the coming weeks.