In final, unofficial results from the Clark County Board of Elections, voters rejected the Clark-Shawnee and Greenon tax-increase school levies Tuesday, while those in Tecumseh and Northeastern supported their renewal levies.
- Clark-Shawnee voters rejected their tax-increase levy, with 68.3% against and 31.7% for it.
- Greenon voters overwhelmingly rejected their tax-increase levy with 79.6% against and 20.4% for it.
- Tecumseh voters passed their renewal levy with 70.8% for it and 29.2% against it.
- Northeastern voters approved their renewal income tax levy, by a 55 to 45 ratio.
Meanwhile, in final, unofficial results from the Champaign County Board of Elections, Graham voters rejected their tax-increase levy with 58.1% against it and 41.8% for it.
“While we are disappointed in the outcome, Graham will continue to provide the best education possible with the resources we have. We remain committed to securing additional revenue that our students and staff need and deserve,” said Superintendent Chad Lensman.
Clark-Shawnee school levy
The five-year, 1% earned income tax would pay for regular operating expenses. It would only apply to earned income such as salary, self employment, wages and tips, not pension, social security, disability or unemployment funds.
The levy would raise around $3.1 million each year. For a resident with $50,000 in annual taxable income, the tax would cost $500 per year.
“Thank you to each person who chose to vote in the May election, ensuring their voice was heard,” Clark-Shawnee Superintendent Brian Kuhn said. “Although these results create a challenge, we respect our community’s decision and will continue to serve you with wholehearted commitment,” said
Clark-Shawnee would have become the fourth school district in Clark County to have a tax on earned income. Northeastern, Northwestern and Southeastern, all have 1% income taxes.
The district’s last operating levy for new money was passed in 2014.
Greenon school levy
The five-year, 2.78-mill property tax levy would have funded the construction of a new transportation facility, a multipurpose room at the athletic facility and the finishing of the “white space” of the K-6 elementary building.
“We appreciate everyone who voted. While the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for, we respect our community’s decision,” said Superintendent Darrin Knapke.
School officials asked voters to approve a similar, but slightly smaller 1.99-mill property tax levy last November that was rejected by a 64-36 ratio.
Tecumseh school levy
Tecumseh’s property tax levy is a five-year, 7-mill renewal of an emergency levy for daily operating expenses. The levy keeps the existing tax rate the same, while extending it for another five years.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to our community for their support in approving the emergency levy on the ballot this evening,” said Superintendent Paula Crew. ”Your vote of confidence ensures that we can continue to provide essential educational opportunities for our students.”
In November, voters rejected a substitute levy, with 59% voting against it. The substitute would have combined two existing levies — an emergency levy that was first approved in 1987 and generates $791,000 annually, and another existing levy that generates $2,106,398 annually.
Tecumseh pulled the two levies apart and asked voters only to renew one of those two existing tax levies — a $2.1 million renewal levy — at the same rate. The second levy, a $791,000 renewal, can’t be on the ballot by itself until May 2026 because it doesn’t expire until 2027.
Northeastern school levy
Voters in the Northeastern school district were asked to renew an existing 1% school income tax for another 10 years, to pay for regular school operating expenses.
“We are incredibly grateful for your continued commitment to our schools and our students. Your vote allows us to maintain the stable funding needed to provide a strong educational foundation,” said Superintendent Jack Fisher.
In November, voters had rejected this same renewal levy by a 15% margin — 57.3% no and 42.7% yes, but this time the results flipped.
Graham school levy
Revenue from Graham’s five-year, 1% earned income tax levy would have been used for day-to-day school operating expenses. At 1%, the tax would cost someone with $50,000 in taxable income $500 per year.
An earned income tax applies almost exclusively to wages/salary, tips and self-employment income. Among the items not taxed are retirement income, social security, workers’ compensation and unemployment benefits, interest, dividends or capital gains, among others.
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