Statement from Dr. Gabriel Lofton, following the certification of Issue 4 from the November 8 ballot:
As members of our school community may now be aware, after initially certifying the levy renewal as passing by a small margin, the final count for Issue 4 on the November 8 ballot was determined to be a tie, triggering an automatic recount process by the Greene County Board of Elections. The district requested a full recount of all votes instead of verifying only 5% of the ballots cast, as allowed by Ohio elections law.
Today, the Greene County Board of Elections has certified that the Issue 4 income tax renewal levy failed by one vote.
We are, of course, disappointed by this outcome, but heartened by the support of so many of you.
Overall, I know that uncertainty about the outcome of the levy more than one month after election day has been stressful and confusing for our school staff and families, especially given the unusual circumstances of the certification. I want you to know that I feel much the same, but I do want to encourage you to trust in the sometimes-messy process that is democracy — even when it does not go the way we might have wished.
As I have mentioned in the past, these operating levies provide critical funding to support day-to-day learning in our classrooms, and we will make plans to move the district forward in a positive way, regardless of this outcome. In addition, please know that our Board of Education will make a decision in early 2023 about whether to put this closely-decided matter back before the voters in May.