By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

In the 11th hour, residents in Lockland and Arlington Heights approved a 15-mill operating levy Tuesday, ending the threat of dissolution of Hamilton County's smallest school district.

The continuing levy won voter approval, 634-403, according to unofficial final results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

"We will be open. We've got a future right now, and we're excited by it," said Lockland Superintendent Phil Fox.

Meanwhile, levies to maintain or improve fire and emergency medical services passed in Mason, Jackson Township and Tate Township, while educators in Franklin were disappointed that a bond issue to add classrooms went down a second time.

The Lockland levy will provide the district of 650 students an additional $1.5 million annually with collections beginning in January, Fox said.

School officials began discussions with the Ohio Department of Education and four neighboring districts about merging Lockland Schools after voters in February turned down a 24.1-mill operating levy.

That prompted the school board to slash $1.4 million - including 26 positions or one fourth of the staff - from the $7.5 million general fund budget, along with reducing the levy amount this time around.

Passage of the operating levy should allow the district to keep its schools open for another four or five years, but it won't be business as usual. The reduced staff means the student-teacher ratio, now averaging 14-1, will increase by a few students, Fox said.

"We have our work cut out for us," he said. "We'll have fewer secretaries, fewer custodians, aides, cafeteria workers and administrators. But we can do it."

Fox said school officials are confident that over the next few years more businesses will move into Lockland and Arlington Heights to increase the tax base.

"We're hoping the state will wake up and change how schools are funded," Fox said.

In Clermont County's Jackson Township, voters overwhelmingly approved their 2-mill replacement fire levy, 161-35, according to the unofficial final results from the Clermont County Board of Elections. The levy, expected to generate $78,000, will cost the owner of a $100,000 house $32 annually each of the next five years with collections beginning in January. Money will be used to pay for fire, ambulance and paramedic services.

In Tate Township, a 4.1-mill continuing operating levy that would allow the Bethel-Tate Fire Department to add paramedics to its 24-hour ambulance service also passed, 643-163, according to unofficial final results. The generated $542,417 per year will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $125.56 a year.

In Mason, voters approved a 5-mill replacement levy, 501-324, that will bring in about $4.2 million annually for the next five years with collections beginning in January.

The money will be used for fire and emergency medical services. Taxes on a $100,000 home will increase $33 a year.

Voters in the Franklin Schools rejected a 2.84-mill bond issue, 1,443 to 1,182, according to unofficial final results from the Warren County Board of Elections. Voters rejected the same issue last May. It would have provided $16.7 million to add a 12-classroom wing to the junior high, at least two classrooms at each elementary school as well as other improvements. Taxes would have increased $87 annually on a $100,000 house.

Assistant Superintendent Bill Wood said the board would review the results at its meeting Monday and decide whether to submit the same issue to voters in November. The deadline for putting an issue on the Nov. 4 ballot is Aug. 21.

"Things haven't changed," Wood said. "Our recommendation will be to go in November.''

Enquirer reporter Erica Solvig contributed. E-mail suek@infionline.net