SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP — A $250,000 deficit projected for the Finneytown Schools was diverted Tuesday when voters approved a 7.95-mill operating levy.

        The levy was approved 2,309 to 1,879, according to final, unofficial results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections. The $1.4 million the levy is expected to raise each year will allow the district to stay solvent for the next four or five years, said Dave Oliverio, school treasurer. It will be used for day-to-day operations and additional staff.

        Taxes on a house with a market value of $100,000 will increase $232 annually, with collections beginning in January.

        It is the first time in nearly a decade that Finneytown residents have been asked to increase their taxes for the day-to-day operations of their schools. Since the last operating levy was approved in 1992, inflation increased the district's operating costs by about 26 percent, Mr. Oliverio said. During the same period, enrollment increased 8.6 percent, from 1,692 students to 1,838. To make room for students the district reopened Brent Elementary School.

        Educators plan to hire an elementary school counselor and a social worker with the money, as well as expand the hours of the district's part-time nurse. Those changes will probably take effect at the beginning of the next school year.

City picks Luken for strong mayor
Luken could be longest running mayor
Luken's top priority: Boosting city's economy
The 'strong mayor' plan
Voters pick for and against in mayor's race
West Siders showed up in force for Luken
Newcomer Pepper wins council race
Issue 5 victory changes hiring of chiefs
Issue 6 loses by 23 votes
Bates, 3 incumbents win school board
Fire, police big winners
GOP sweeps Hamilton County municipal court
Hamilton County levies pass
Hamilton County township races
Democrats take over Norwood
Finneytown approves school levy
Ryan elected Hamilton mayor
Butler County defeats sales tax
Butler County township races
Butler County school board races
Lebanon, Mason elect newcomers
Newcomer elected in Warren township
Warren County approves mental health levy
Warren County school boards
Warren selects mix for school boards
Waynesville re-elects mayor
Clermont defeats mental retardation levy
Clermont schools count victories
Most Clermont incumbents re-elected
Upsets on Clermont school boards
Vote more valued after Sept. 11
Cleveland, Toledo mayors set firsts
Dayton elects first female mayor
Giuliani's candidate wins NY mayor