School Levy Goes Down by Wide Margin

With all 36 precincts counted, the Strongsville School District's 6.9-mill operating levy has lost by a wide margin.

Unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections show the levy went down 8,827 to 2,164.

The issue would have generated about $10 million a year for the fiscally strapped school district and cost residents about $200 a year for each $100,000 in home valuation.

The school board has already set the stage for a levy on the November ballot -- either a return of the 6.9-mill issue or a .

The renewal expires at the end of 2012. School officials talked about putting it on the ballot this year in case it needs several tries to be approved. 

It will appear as a continuing levy, rather than a five-year issue.

But officials also said more cuts will have to be made to programs if the new levy is not passed this year. 

They agreed, however, that both levies would not appear on the same ballot.