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Pickerington's school levy fails by 256 votes. Cuts come next.

Voters turned down Pickerington Local Schools' 0.75% earned-income tax on Tuesday, by 256 votes in the unofficial count. It was the district's second try this year: a 1.25% version with no end date lost in May, and the board came back with a smaller rate and a ten-year limit after nine listening sessions over the summer.

The levy would have raised about $21 million a year from January 1 and, by the district's estimate, cost a household with $80,000 of Ohio taxable income about $600 a year. Social Security income was exempt.

What happens now: the district says it will "carefully work through" the reduction plan it set out before the vote. That plan named high school electives and sports teams, on-campus College Credit Plus classes, and middle school band and orchestra. The district has spent more than it took in for four years and has already cut about $3.25 million. Board President Cathy Olshefski said the board will "evaluate our options and determine the best path forward."

Nothing is cut yet. The board decides at its next meetings; the first changes would show up in next year's class schedules and spring sports budgets. We will be in the room.

Sources: Fox 28, CW Columbus, NBC4

Around the corridor

• Pickerington library levy: failed, narrowly. The 1.5-mill levy was to run the library and replace the Sycamore Plaza branch with a new building. In the Franklin County precincts it lost 121 to 117; the Fairfield County count, where most of the district's voters are, was also a narrow no. No new building for now.
• Madison Township: fire yes, police no. The fire levy passed 6,254 to 4,894 (56%). The police levy failed, 5,338 to 5,779 (48%). Expect the trustees to talk patrol budgets at their next meeting.
• Canal Winchester water and sewer bills. New water and sewer rate ordinances had their second reading at council on Monday. A third reading and vote come at the next regular meeting, so if you want to speak on your bill, that is the one.
• A new "community authority" for Gender and Groveport roads. Council on Monday created the Canal Winchester New Community Authority, starting with about three acres at the northwest corner of Gender Road and Groveport Road, and appointed its seven trustees. An NCA can levy its own charge on properties inside it to pay for infrastructure as the area develops. Also on the agenda: the 2027 city budget (first reading), a contract to run the pool through 2031, and a deal with Fairfield County to house prisoners.
• State Issue 3 (photo ID written into the state constitution): Franklin County voted yes, 53% to 47%. The statewide result was not final at the time of writing; tomorrow.
• Turnout: 61.5% in Fairfield County, 56.5% in Franklin (511,532 ballots). All counts are unofficial until the boards certify them later this month.

Sources: Franklin County Board of Elections, WOUB, Decision Desk HQ, Canal Winchester council agenda, 2 Nov

Meetings this week

• Mon 9 Nov, 7pm · Canal Winchester Planning & Zoning Commission, City Hall, 45 E. Waterloo St. Development plans and variances; agenda.
• Wed 11 Nov · City offices closed for Veterans Day in all three towns.
• Mon 16 Nov, 6pm work session, 7pm council · Canal Winchester City Council, City Hall. Likely third reading of the water and sewer rates and the 2027 budget.
• Tue 17 Nov, 7:30pm · Pickerington City Council. Wed 18 Nov, 7pm Service Committee, 7:15pm Rules Committee.
• Pickerington school board · first meeting after the levy vote; date and agenda as soon as the district posts them. This is the one to attend if you have a child in the district.
• Madison Township trustees · the police levy result will be on the agenda; date to be confirmed.

Out and about

• Now to Sun 8 Nov · Fall Book Sale, Pickerington Main Library, 201 Opportunity Way. 9am to 8pm through Saturday, noon to 3pm Sunday.
• Fri 6 Nov, 3 to 5pm · Crafternoon & Cinema, Sycamore Plaza Library, 7861 Refugee Rd.
• Sat 7 Nov, 11am · Brunch with the Columbus Chapter Sweet Adelines, Groveport Town Hall Ballroom. Doors 10:30am, registration required.
• Wed 11 Nov, 11am · Veterans Day Ceremony, Veterans Park, 421 Main St, Groveport.
• Thu 12 Nov, 4 to 8pm · Pickerington Village Shop Hop, 88 E. Church St. Shops open late, specials downtown.
• Save the dates · Christmas in the Village, downtown Canal Winchester, Fri 4 and Sat 5 Dec, 6 to 9pm, with the tree lighting at Stradley Park and the BrockStrong lights parade on the Friday. Heritage Holiday, Heritage Park, Groveport, Sun 6 Dec, 3 to 6pm.

Sources: CityScene Pickerington calendar, Groveport 2026 events calendar, Destination CW

Business and jobs

• Networking: Pickerington Chamber "Morning Hour of Power" speed networking, Thu 12 Nov. Canal Winchester Chamber member meeting, Wed 18 Nov, 5 to 6:30pm, with a vote on bylaw changes (members, RSVP). Women's Leadership Coalition, "Dare to Be Rare", Fri 20 Nov.
• Opening: Fourteen & Ember, a wood-fired steakhouse in the old Solomon's Carpet building in downtown Pickerington, is set for December. Hamburger Inn follows in spring at 51 E. Columbus St. The city is calling the downtown push the Elevate District.
• Coming down: the former Lisk Dental office at 9 Hill Rd N, Pickerington, is to be demolished before the end of the year for a new commercial building.
• Hiring: [jobs slot: five local openings a day from employers in the three towns, free to list in month one]

Sources: Pickerington Chamber, Canal Winchester Chamber, CityScene, Pickerington city news

Neighbors

The question

One useful thing

Unofficial results become official when each county board of elections certifies them, usually within three weeks. A 256-vote margin is not close enough for an automatic recount in Ohio (that needs a margin inside half a percent), so the Pickerington result stands unless the district asks and pays for a recount.