CENTERBURG — Centerburg voters rejected the school district’s 2.75-mill permanent improvement levy on Tuesday, according to final, unofficial results from the Knox and Licking County Boards of Election.

In Knox County, the totals included 1,170 for the levy’s approval, while 1,397 voted against its passage, representing an 227-vote margin.

In Licking County, the totals included 22 for the levy’s approval, while 12 voted against its passage, representing a 10-vote margin in the other direction.

The Knox County Board of Elections still has provisional ballots and absentee ballots postmarked Monday to count, Director said.

The margin for a recount is half a percent, and if there’s a recount, it will be after the official certification. 

If approved, school officials said the levy would have relieved pressure on the general fund and elevated the district out of a deficit-spending cycle.

Centerburg supt. Ryan Gallwitz said he appreciated the work the levy committee put into this election.

“The levy failed by 227 votes, so it was close,” Gallwitz said. “We’ll regroup and reevaluate and see how we’re gonna move forward.

“We’re gonna continue to do the best we can for the students. But there are difficult decisions that lie ahead.”