More than 125 people attended the First Presbyterian Church’s Election Day Luncheon Tuesday afternoon in Marietta. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

MARIETTA — One county-wide levy passed, another failed and a third’s result won’t count after Washington County residents went to the polls Tuesday.

Voters rejected the replacement levy for the Washington County Board of Development Disabilities according to final, unofficial election results from the Washington County Board of Elections.

With all 50 precincts reporting and 11,720 total votes, the replacement tax levy failed by 672 votes based on the unofficial results.

“It’s certainly disheartening however there seemed to be a perfect storm with the talk of property tax reform and new valuations,” said WCBDD Director Tiffany Neill. “Unfortunately, the board will have to make some incredibly difficult decisions we would have preferred not to make.”

Neill said they’ll have to discuss and plan how they’ll move forward without adequate funds to support the services offered. She said they could go on the ballot again in May under a new levy but it’ll be even more difficult with the public’s concerns about property taxes.

Pauline Lee chops vegetables for soup at the Election Day Luncheon hosted at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta on Tuesday afternoon. The proceeds of the event, according to the Rev. Michael Seely, fund In the Midst Honduras, a mission program that provides food distribution, leadership training, church services, medical aid/assistance, water distribution and educational support. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

The levy proposed that the county auditor will collect $7,027,000 annually at a rate not exceeding 3.6 mills for each $1 of taxable value. This amounts to $126 for each $100,000 of the appraised value for a continuing period of time.

“Tiffany and her entire team do a really great job and provide some great services,” said Washington County Commissioner Charlie Schilling. “I hope the taxpayer understands that and sees everything they do.”

He said the taxpayers’ majority vote against the replacement levy has a lot to do with the property tax reform.

Voters approved the replacement tax levy for senior services according to the unofficial election results from the board of elections.

With 50 precincts reporting and 11,654 total votes, the replacement tax levy passed by 1,976 votes according to the unofficial results.

Carol Seely serves Jill Torbett at the Election Day Luncheon at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday in Marietta. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“Senior services will get more funding for services such as Meals on Wheels and other resources for the seniors,” said Schilling.

The tax levy benefits senior citizen services and facilities in the county. The auditor estimates it will collect $1,659,000 annually at a rate not exceeding 0.85 mills for each $1 of taxable value. It amounts to $30 for each $100,000 of the appraised value for five years.

“The voters have spoken,” he said.

Any votes cast on the renewal levy for the Washington County Public Library weren’t officially counted due to missing information that prevented the levy from officially going on the ballot. The missing information wasn’t discovered in time for the levy to be removed from Tuesday’s ballot.

Washington County Board of Elections Director Mandy Amos said the information would be fixed so the renewal can appear on the ballot in May.

With all precincts reporting, voters approved three replacement tax levies in Marietta Township for EMS services. For the purpose of providing and maintaining fire and emergency services, the levy not exceeding .5 mills for five years passed by 369 with 843 total votes.

The levy not exceeding 1 mills for five years passed by 278 with 836 total votes.

The levy not exceeding 1.6 mills for five years passed by 188 with 838 total votes.

With the one precinct reporting, the local liquor option at the Lowell Duchess passed by 29 votes with 89 total votes.

For more information on election results, visit www.boe.ohio.gov/washington/

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com