TONTOGANY – Cuts in staff and programming at Otsego Local Schools may happen with the defeat of its income tax request.

Results in Wood County for the Otsego Local Schools 0.5% income tax request were cause for celebration.

But when Lucas County Board of Elections posted its results later Tuesday night, that celebration turned to sorrow.

The 0.5% income tax passed 1,272 in favor and 1,190 opposed in Wood County but lost in Lucas County, where 138 voted in favor and 221 voted against.

Otsego voters in Henry County also voted down the tax, 35 in favor and 53 opposed.

The unofficial results were 1,445 in favor and 1,464 opposed, according to Terry Burton, Wood County Board of Elections director.

The board will certify the results on April 3 and if the win/loss margin is within one half of 1% of the total votes cast, there will be a recount in all three counties, Burton said.

The district in February released a list of cuts that would happen if the issue failed. That list included stipends for all assistant athletic coaches, teaching and learning software and instructional supplies, staff training, the Ohio Virtual Learning Academy teacher and a kindergarten teacher, and all aides.

These cuts would save the district roughly $350,000.

Based on the current forecast, the board will need to either increase revenue to balance the budget or reduce expenditures by approximately $353,492 in fiscal year 2025 and $341,036 in fiscal year 2026.

With the levy’s failure, also under consideration is all non-required transportation to junior high and high school events, all field trips, the safety director and athletic director positions, the Spanish teacher, and teachers who lead programs including robotics, STEAM, greenhouse, creative writing, the district podcast, e-sports and speech and debate.

These potential cuts are being considered as a proactive measure to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of our school district, Superintendent Kevin O’Shea said in February.

He could not be reached for comment this morning.

A similar tax request failed in November. The difference is that tax was for a continuing time and Tuesday’s ballot issue is for five years.

When the school board meets March 28, it will hear an updated financial forecast and discuss its next steps plus potential cuts.