Supporters of a 6.6 mill, five-year emergency school levy for the Bethel-Tate Local School District sit in the parking lot at the Bethel Community Center, located at 129 N. Union St., to greet voters and ask for their support on Nov. 8, 2016.

Supporters of a 6.6 mill, five-year emergency school levy for the Bethel-Tate Local School District sit in the parking lot at the Bethel Community Center, located at 129 N. Union St., to greet voters and ask for their support on Nov. 8, 2016.
By Megan Alley
Sun staff

On Nov. 8, voters in the Bethel-Tate Local School District rejected a 6.6 mill, five-year levy, however due to a narrow margin of defeat, supporters are hopeful the tax increase will pass after provisional ballots are counted later this month.

The levy, which is expected to generate about $1.1 million annually, was voted down by 50.09 percent of the electorate, according to unofficial results from the Clermont County Board of Elections. The final vote was 2,159 to 2,151, and 99 did not vote on the issue.

“We are eagerly awaiting the provisional votes that need to be counted and certified so that we can hopefully come out on top,” said Lois Dennis, co-chair of the campaign committee Tiger Pride Community Wide.

The Clermont County Board of Elections will begin processing the provisional votes on Nov. 21, according to Judy Miller, director. The final count will be released on Nov. 29.

The levy would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $20 per month.

“It’s a critical and much needed,” Dennis said. “The financial need is still there.”

Bethel has not passed a school operating levy since 1989. Since then, the school district opened an additional building, Bethel-Tate High School.

Currently, state funding makes up about 69 percent, or $10.2 million, of the school district’s budget. Local funding, with public utility contributions, makes up about 20.4 percent, or $3 million.

If the levy doesn’t pass, $500,000 worth of cuts will need to be made within the school district beginning in January 2017, with another round of cuts beginning in May 2017, according Dennis.

Ben Roa, a 6-year resident of the village of Bethel, voted for the levy.

“I went to Bethel and want to support the home school,” he said.

Ron Shouse, a 30-year resident of Bethel, voted for the levy because of the children and their education.

“Making sure that these kids don’t fall behind in their education,” he said. “They need good schools, they need good teachers, they need buildings that are not leaking and broke down; all that together.”

He added, “It ultimately ends at the children and the good the education; this needs to happen with this levy.”

Likewise, Garrie Brumley, Jr., a 4-year resident of Bethel, also voted for the levy.

“My daughter, she goes to the high school right now, and you know, anything that is going to help further her education, I’m good with,” he said. “If they need the stuff to keep the school running properly so she can do that, then I’m for it.”

Dennis thanked all those in the community that supported the levy efforts.

“We’re grateful for all the support that we received from all of our campaign volunteers and parents and teachers,” she said. “The vote went very close – eight votes.”