DARKE COUNTY – There were six levies on the ballot Tuesday, including New Madison, Bradford, Butler Township, Franklin Township, Neave Township, and Wabash Township. All but Butler Township passed with a majority vote.

Butler Township’s replacement levy failed by an unofficial vote of 57.42 percent against and 42.58 percent for, according to the Darke County Board of Elections’ results page. The township was asking for 0.4 Mills, which Larry Royer, Butler Township trustee, said was basically a renewal of what township residents were already paying.

“I’m disappointed that it went down, we’ll have to rethink what we’re going to do, maybe put it in the spring primary,” stated Royer. “I’m not surprised…folks don’t like more taxes, we’re hammered with enough. But we have to maintain funds so we can operate.”

According to Royer, there were around $25,000 in budget cuts from the general fund; the township put the replacement levy out early enough hoping it would encourage voters, and allow the township to pick up just a little extra to cover budget costs, he said.

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