MOUNT BLANCHARD, Ohio — A local school district learned the fate of its improvement levy weeks after voters cast their ballots.
The Riverdale Local School District improvement levy has lost by six votes, according to the Hancock County Board of Elections.
Based on now-certified vote totals, 1,073 people voted in favor of the levy and 1,079 people voted against it. The slim margin appeared even slimmer based on the unofficial tally, which showed the levy failing by only one vote.
District officials started preparing for this situation even before they found out the final results.
Riverdale Local Schools Superintendent Greg Rossman addressed the community in a letter Tuesday:
Falcons,
All three counties; Wyandot, Hardin, and Hancock have certified their elections. The overall totals for the elections are as follows. This will go to a recount issued by the secretary of state, which will be a 10-day window after the state has issued the recount. We have not been informed of that exact timeline.
The district has already started initial steps in placing a permanent improvement levy on the March 19, 2024 ballot. At last night's board of education meeting, a 2.0 millage continuous permanent improvement levy resolution was read and voted to move forward. This resolution will require certification by the Hancock County auditor, and then require a second reading and approval from our board of education. The resolution will then have to be submitted to the Hancock County Board of Elections prior to the December 20, 2023 deadline.
Coming up just short this fall was difficult, however we are very encouraged by the overwhelming support and positivity from our students, staff, parents, and community. I fully believe we have amazing students, staff, and parents accomplishing great things every day in our district. If you have any questions about Riverdale Local Schools or the upcoming permanent improvement levy that will be on the March 19, 2024 ballot, please reach out.
Go Falcons.
On Tuesday, Rossman confirmed to WTOL 11 that the Ohio Secretary of State did a recount of the vote and confirmed the levy failed.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the result of the Ohio Secretary of State's recount.
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