Voters Reject Southwest Local Schools Tax Levy

The school district expects to see a funding decrease for the upcoming fiscal year.

(Harrison, Oh.) - Voters in the Southwest Local School District shot down a tax levy during Tuesday's primary election. 

Fifty-eight percent of voters in Hamilton County were against the tax levy, while 42 percent were in favor.

The issue was also on the ballot in Butler County, where 137 voters were against the levy and 110 were for it.

Southwest Local Schools was looking to pass a $4 million property tax levy lasting five years to cover its current expenses. Had the levy passed, it would have generated more than $4 million a year for the district. 

The tax levy vote comes after the state's biennial operating budget bill was passed for fiscal years 2026-27.

Under the new state budget, Southwest Local Schools expects to see a funding decrease of about $3 million for the upcoming fiscal year. 

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