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Mercer County's special election ballot on Tuesday featured a lone Celina City Schools income tax renewal issue.
CELINA - A Celina school income tax renewal levy considered a crucial source of operating revenue was shot down on Election Day by a mere nine votes, sending school officials into despondency.
However, five provisional ballots and six outstanding absentee ballots, if postmarked no later than Monday and returned by Saturday, could potentially reverse the levy outcome, according to Mercer County Board of Elections Director Deb Sneddon.
School board members Bill Sell and Barbara Vorhees appeared crushed when Sneddon read the unofficial final election results at about 9 p.m. Tuesday in the courthouse.
The tally was 785 votes for and 794 votes against the five-year 1% earned-income tax renewal levy that generates $4.316 million annually.
Mercer County Board of Elections Director Deb Sneddon delivers the results of Tuesday's special election to Celina City Schools Superintendent Ken Schmiesing, center, and board member Bill Sell.
"Disappointing. Very disappointing," Sell said.
"It could be devastating," added Vorhees.
"I mean, we're talking layoffs," Sell said.
Asked what those personnel cuts may look like, Sell said the board doesn't have an immediate plan.
School officials have one more chance to renew the levy before it expires at the end of the year.
"We'll have to run it again in November and see if we can get it through," Sell said.
But there's a slim chance the outstanding ballots could tip the scales in the school's favor.
Sneddon said three provisional ballots were issued on Tuesday and two during early in-person voting to people "who had moved and not updated their registration."
"As long as everything checks out on those ballots they should be accepted for counting," Sneddon said.
There are also six absentee ballots that have not been returned.
The board will meet on May 10 to decide whether to accept and scan the outstanding ballots.
"We won't be able to start uploading them for the official canvas until May 16," Sneddon said.
The close results could trigger a recount.
"It all depends on the official canvas. If it falls within one half of 1% of the total votes cast then it's an automatic recount," she said.
The income tax represents an eighth of the school district's budget, said superintendent Ken Schmiesing.
"We do receive money from the state, we do receive some federal money, but the local dollars that are generated by our property levies and also this income tax are very important for us to continue to operate quality programs," he said.
The income tax was first approved several years ago but district voters in November 2017 passed a ballot issue to increase the tax rate from 0.75% to 1%.
Several candidates running for office this year did not face contested races on Tuesday and will automatically advance to the Nov. 7 general election ballot.
A voter checks in at the Galleria in Celina to vote in Tuesday's special election.
Three Celina City Council at-large seats presently held by Democrats June Scott and Eric Lochtefeld and Republican Mike Sovinski are up for grabs in November.
Scott opted not to run again while Sovinski submitted petitions to run as an independent candidate by the May 1 deadline.
Sovinski's name will appear on the general election ballot pending certification of his petitions. So too will the names of Lochtefeld and fellow Democrat Kyle Bruce and Republicans Matt Gray, Thomas R. Sanford and Joe Wolfe.
The top three vote getters will get a seat on council in 2024.
Celina Municipal Court Judge Kathryn W. Speelman, Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel, Celina Law Director George Moore and Celina Auditor Brooke Shinn, all Republicans, move on to the general election ballot as well.
Three St. Marys City Council at-large seats currently held by Republicans Daniel Uhlenhake, Robert Fitzgerald and Erik Mauter will be voted on in November. Uhlenhake and Fitzgerald are on the general election ballot but Mauter did not file to run as a Republican.
Council president James Harris, a Republican; first ward councilor John Bubp, a Republican; second ward councilor Kyle Schmehl, a Republican; third ward councilor James S. Christman, a Republican; and fourth ward councilor Robin Willoughby, a Democrat; will appear on the general election ballot.
So too will mayoral candidate Joe Hurlburt, St. Marys City Auditor Doug Riesen and St. Marys Law Director Zach Ferrall, all Republicans.
