The single Logan County-wide tax measure that was on the ballot in Tuesday’s Primary Election went down hard as a large majority of Logan County voters cast “no” votes on a proposal for an additional property tax levy to fund the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities. 

Out of a total of 6,773 of the votes cast in Logan County on the levy, 4,625 voters, or 68.3 percent, gave the measure a thumbs down, with 2,148, or 31.7 percent, voting in favor of the levy, according to unofficial totals.

The levy was for 2.75 mills, which would have collected $96 per year per $100,000 of property market value and was expected to raise $6,000,000 annually for five years. 

With the failure to the levy, the LCBDD will likely have to consider cutting non-mandated services provided by the board, such as preschool activities, early intervention services and the Special Olympics. The board may also have to look at cutting back on mandated services, but no decisions have as yet been made on what, if any, cuts in services are to be implemented.

The LCBDD has the option of putting another measure back on the ballot in the November, an action that will first need the consent of the Board, the Logan County Commission and the Logan County Auditor. 

The Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities is scheduled to meet in regular session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at 1973 State Route 47 West, Bellefontaine.

Voter turnout at 21.88 percent

The number of ballots cast for Tuesday’s Primary Election in Logan County totaled 6,844, including 3,951 on Election Day (nearly 58 percent) ; 2,627 in-person early voting (about 38 percent); and 266 cast absentee, the Logan County Board of Elections reports.

The breakdown by party for ballots cast includes: 1,367 Democratic; 5,142 Republican; 39 Libertarian; and 296 issues only ballots.

This turnout fell a little below previous Gubernatorial Primaries in recent years; including a turnout of 7,852 in 2022 and 7,107 in 2018, Board of Elections officials note.

Bloomfield Twp./Tri-Valley measures pass

The two fire/EMS levies that were on ballots in Bloomfield Township and the Tri-Valley Fire District both passed Tuesday with comfortable margins. 

The Bloomfield Township voters approved an additional 2-mill property tax levy to fund Fire/EMS services by an exact two-thirds margin with 61 votes for and 32 votes against, according to unofficial results.

The levy is estimated to collect $59,000 annually, or $70 per $100,000 of property market value, for five years starting in this year. 

Voters who live in the Tri-Valley Fire District, which includes Zanesfield, Valley Hi and Jefferson Township, also approved their levy, which was asking for a renewal of a 1.5-mill property tax for current expenses, the measure passing by a 280-209 margin, or 57 to 43 percent, according to unofficial results.

The levy will cost landowners $27 per $100,000 of property market value and expects to realize $105,000 annually for five years starting this year.