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CANFIELD – Schools Superintendent Joe Knoll said officials will have to weigh cuts after voters turned down a 5.9-mill additional operating levy Tuesday.
The measure would have generated $5,715,791 per year for five years and would have cost homeowners $207 per year for every $100,000 of property valuation.
According to incomplete and unofficial election results, 53% of voters said “no” to the measure.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed with results,” he said, but indicated he believes residents were well informed and said the committee did an excellent job getting out the facts.
He credited John Schuler, Hannah Morrison, Jason Henry, Ashley Kanontz, Rachel Muser, Miranda Johnson and Kristen Palm for spending countless hours getting the word out.
“The board has to decide now where we go from here,” he said, adding it may decide to ask voters again in May to support some type of levy.
The money would have been used mainly for personnel and programs, but officials have said it could also have gone toward facility maintenance, but not for construction of new buildings.
School board member Jill DeRamo said officials will meet soon to discuss next steps.
“It’s really unfortunate that things did not turn out in our favor,” she added.
Canfield’s last new operating levy for 5.9 mills passed in 2013. It brought in $3,247,378 annually for five years. It now collects at approximately 3.65 mills.
Knoll has said that levy will be up for renewal next year.
Most recently, in 2024, voters rejected a $64.19 million bond issue intended to pay for a new Canfield Village Middle School and upgrades to other buildings. Voters in 2022 and 2023 rejected bond issues for new facilities.
Officials have said that HVAC systems, lighting and space utilization are challenges at the middle school, which was built in 1922.
C. H. Campbell Elementary was built in 1961, the high school was built five years later, and Hilltop Elementary in 1970.
WEST BRANCH LEVY ALSO DEFEATED
Voters in the West Branch Local School District shot down a 1-mill additional levy for permanent improvements that would have raised $441,474 annually for five years.
It would have cost $35 a year per $100,000 property value.
According to incomplete and unofficial results from Mahoning County Board of Elections, 63% of voters said “no” to the levy.
Superintendent Matthew Manley has said money would have gone toward addressing safety issues and providing upgrades to the fire suppression system.
He said the system would have been upgraded with a water booster station and pump.
Other needs include a new PA system, safety lanyards for staff, security camera updates and the repaving of lots and school roads, officials have said.
The money would have gone toward permanent improvements and would not have been used for staff salaries or day-to-day operations.
Manley was unavailable for comment at press time.