Voters reject Riverdale levy again

MOUNT BLANCHARD — Voters rejected Riverdale Local Schools' 2-mill levy once again in the primary election Tuesday, according to unofficial results. The school district, located in Hancock, Wyandot and Hardin counties, placed the continuous improvement levy on the March 19 ballot in order to raise funds to maintain school buildings and other permanent equipment on school grounds. Passing the levy would have generated about $380,000 for the district annually. Unofficial results tallied last night showed that Hancock County voters were 376 in favor and 325 opposed to the levy. Wyandot voters were 176 in favor and 211 opposed. Hardin voters were 168 in favor and 243 opposed. Total votes counted for all three districts show 720 in favor of the levy and 779 opposed. The same levy failed by just six votes in the November 2023 election. "We knew it was going to be close. Anytime that you're asking a community, a school district for new money, it's a challenge," Riverdale Superintendent Greg Rossman said Tuesday night. The district has not had new money in over three decades. We're within votes of doing something that hasn't been done in a district for three-plus decades." He added: "Times are tough — inflation, cost of living. People have to make a tough decision on their plate. I get it." Rossman said their next steps after the loss involves reconvening with the Board of Education. "The district will have some tough decisions to make," he stated. "We'll see where it goes." Arcadia Hancock and Seneca County voters passed two Arcadia Local School tax issues on the primary ballot according to unofficial election results. Unofficial results tallied showed Hancock County voters were 452 in favor and 387 opposed to the four-year, 2.5 mill levy levy. Seneca voters were none in favor and two opposed. The funds will be used to "avoid an operating deficit," as stated on the ballot. Hancock County voters were 436 in favor of the five-year, 1% annual income tax and 402 opposed. Seneca voters were one in favor and one opposed. The funds will be used for current operating expenses. Bluffton Bluffton Exempted Village School District, located in Allen and Hancock counties, had one issue on the spring ballot, which was passed by Hancock and Allen County voters. The district asked voters to renew a five-year levy, costing about 3.5 mills for voters. The funds will be used to avoid an "operating deficit in the sum of $714,000" as stated on the ballot. Unofficial results showed Hancock County voters were eight in favor and nine opposed to the levy. Allen County voters were 929 in favor and 308 opposed.