The coronavirus-delayed March 17 primary election finally came to a close Tuesday night, with unofficial results that will be adjusted as mail-in ballots trickle in. Official results are expected to be released May 8.
In Summit County, residents were asked to give a little more for Summit Metro Parks and on Tuesday night, the agency found that voters did so by a nearly 3-to-1 ratio.
The levy was boosted by 0.54 mills to 2 mills. It amounts to $5.05 a month or $60.54 a year per $100,000 home valuation for taxpayers.
Of that, the new millage would be about $1.58 per month per $100,000 home valuation, or less than $19 a year for the increase.
The length of the levy would also increase from seven to nine years. Collection would begin in tax year 2022 and continue through tax year 2030.
Unofficial results had the levy gaining approval 48,458, or 73.36% to 17,595, or 26.64%
“We are extremely grateful for the support the public has shown for their Metro Parks,” said Executive Director Lisa King. “As responsible stewards of Summit County’s natural and financial resources, we will continue to fulfill our promise of providing a high-quality park experience for all to enjoy.”
Residents will see this funding at work every day in the district’s 16 clean and safe parks and 150 miles of trails. To augment levy funding, Summit Metro Parks plans to continue to compete for grants that help keep large projects moving forward, the director said.
In a four-way battle between Democrats for Summit County sheriff, Kandy Fatheree led three other candidates by a wide margin. Her closest opponent was more than 6,000 votes behind.
Republican Shane R. Barker ran unopposed. He will face Fatheree in November.
In Springfield Township, voters were asked to approve two levies for the township’s fire department. One of those included a 1.8-mill increase for property owners.
Springfield voters obliged the fire department, voting for a 3.3-mill renewal and increase in one levy and renewal of a 3.2- mill levy. Both will run for five years.
The Coventry Local School District, still struggling to climb out of state fiscal control, placed a 6.27-mill renewal levy on the ballot.
Voters gave a thumbs-up to the levy, although they rejected an earned income tax for the district in the November election.
According to the unofficial results, the renewal levy was ahead by a 3-to-2 ratio.
Residents in the Manchester Local School District were presented two levies to vote on, both of them renewals.
If the unofficial results hold up, both renewal levies will pass by a comfortable margin for the 1,400-student district, which serves a large section of New Franklin.
See the story on Akron Beacon Journal here >>