WARREN — Trumbull County voters defeated a Trumbull County MetroParks levy by a 1.76 percent margin.

A new 10-year, 0.6-mill levy would have generated $2 million each year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $22 per year in additional property taxes. If it had passed, it would have increased the budget for the MetroParks by more than 2,000 percent, catapulting past the $95,000 annual budget the system uses now to maintain parks in the county and pay for its single employee, executive director Zachary Svette.

The levy was defeated by 1,644 votes, and 93,374 cast a ballot for or against the levy, according to unofficial and incomplete results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections. The board is expected to certify the results of the election on Wednesday.

The levy passed in six communities. In Warren, 57.8 percent of voters approved it; in Girard, 55.9 percent; in Liberty, 52.2 percent; in Cortland, 52.7 percent; in Champion, 52.4 percent; and in Warren Township, 50.7 percent of voters approved the levy.

In the 27 other communities in the county, the levy failed, according to an analysis by the newspaper.

In Newton Falls, Howland, Niles, Hubbard City and West Farmington, the margins were close, with the levy failing by 2 or 3 percentage points. Svette said the board that oversees the MetroParks will determine if they will ask voters again in May or in future elections for a levy.

“We want to review data and see where we need to improve,” Svette said.

Preliminary plans for how the park board would have spent the funds included maintenance plans for the bike trail, a raise in pay for Svette of $24,000 in the first few years and then another $10,000 raise, new equipment, several new employees, increased maintenance of existing parks and new projects.

The initial proposal suggested spending $240,000 per year on benefits and salaries in the first five years, going up to $409,500 in years seven to 10.

rfox@tribtoday.com