Monday, November 26th, 2012
Final count: Mendon levy fails by four
By Shelley Grieshop
MENDON - The village's proposed tax levy for general operations was officially defeated at the polls by four votes.
The results were determined after provisional votes were added during a final count on Saturday by Mercer County Board of Elections officials.
According to the tally, 136 votes or 50.75 percent were against the 2.5-mill replacement levy; 132 or 49.25 percent voted in favor. Eleven provisional votes were added to the 257 counted Nov. 6, elections director Laura Bruns said this morning.
The initial count on Election Day showed the levy was defeated by three votes.
Mendon village fiscal officer Kristina Boroff was clearly disappointed this morning when told the levy failed. She said council members were waiting on the final results before possibly taking action.
"We've talked briefly about it," she said. "We'll probably look closer at our budget and tighten up."
Officials aren't sure if they'll put the issue back on the ballot in 2013. The next council meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the village hall. A special meeting may be called prior to that date to specifically discuss the budget, Boroff said.
The five-year levy would have generated $15,038 annually, the same as in past years. The cost to the owner of a $100,000 home would have been $75 per year.
Bruns said a total of 19 provisional ballots were cast from the Mendon precinct and reviewed Saturday. However, only 11 were from residents living in the village limits who could vote on the issue.
Ohio boards of elections were allowed to begin their official canvass of the General Election on Nov. 17 and no later than Nov. 21. The work must be completed by Tuesday.
Mercer County officials reviewed 518 provisional ballots; 466 were verified.
"Most of those that weren't counted were from people who weren't registered to vote," Bruns said.
Thirty-eight absentee votes - ballots turned in after the Nov. 6 deadline - also were reviewed and included in the official count, she said.
The canvass was completed Tuesday in Auglaize County. Officials reviewed 627 provisional ballots; 530 were verified. Also, 37 absentee ballots were added to the final count.
The official count in Auglaize County did not change the outcome for any races or issues.
