BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Edgewood City Schools will put on hold plans to expand the high school after Tuesday's defeat of an $18.9 million bond issue.
The 3.4-mill bond issue in the special election was rejected 1,423 votes to 1,335. The owner of a house with a market value of $100,000 would have paid an additional $120 annually in new taxes. Three similar bond issues failed during the last two years.
"I can be disappointed, but not necessarily," said Dale Robertson, superintendent of Edgewood City Schools. "We think we have the right plan. I wish we had 90 more votes."
In Reily Township, passage of a 3.5-mill fire levy Tuesday will provide for fire and emergency medical services. The issue was approved 392-70, according to unofficial totals from the Butler County Board of Elections.
The measure will cost the owner of a house with a market value of $100,000 $110 in additional taxes each of the next five years, with collections beginning in January.
Edgewood would have used its money to build a two-story addition that would have doubled the size of Babeck Elementary School, to add 78,900 square feet to Edgewood High School, and to build a connector between Trenton and Bloomfield elementary schools. The bond issue also would have paid for upgrading the gymnasium and to renovate classrooms at Trenton Elementary.
The Edgewood school board will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday to discuss the vote. Mr. Robertson said he will recommend the board resubmit the bond issue in the November general election.
The Reily Township Fire Department will use its money for an addition to its Main Street firehouse to house emergency medical equipment and personnel.
Reily Township expanded its fire department to include emergency medical services July 1, after the April disbanding of the private Hanover life squad, which had provided service to Reily Township. While Reily recruited volunteers, Oxford, Morgan Township and Millville departments covered calls in Reily Township on an interim basis.
Reily Township Trustee David Hysell said trustees will ask the auditor's office to stop collecting taxes on a 1.5-mill fire levy due to expire at the end of 1999 because the new levy was structured to provide money to cover both services.
