SchoolsThursday, November 5
Amherst schools warn of more cuts after a third levy failure in a year
The 5AM Lorain team
If you have kids in Amherst schools, brace for more cuts. Issue 1, the district's third failed bid in a year for new operating money, went down Tuesday in unofficial results from the Lorain County Board of Elections. The district says further reductions will "most likely be necessary."
Amherst's Issue 1 failed with cuts of $13.3 million already planned
- 53.3%
- of voters opposed Issue 1
- $5.8 million
- a year Issue 1 would have raised
- $13.3 million
- in cuts planned through fiscal year 2029
- 48
- positions the cut plan eliminates
Source: Cleveland.com
The state placed Amherst under fiscal caution in late 2025, and the district then adopted its cut plan, which includes high school busing and the French program. Elsewhere, FOX 8 lists more than 16 districts where levies failed. Elyria, Oberlin and Vermilion were among those that won.
Amherst's next financial deadlines run from February to July
- Nov. 2025Voters reject an earned income tax.
- Late 2025State places the district under fiscal caution.
- Nov. 3Issue 1 fails with 53.3% of voters opposed.
- Feb. 2027Five-year financial forecast is due to the state.
- May 2027Board plans to put a levy renewal on the ballot.
- JulyState funding decisions are expected.
Source: Cleveland.com
- Renewal cost: about $171 a year per $100,000 of home value
- Renewal would keep about $2.6 million the district already gets
- If it fails, the district risks losing that revenue
- Levy history: passed in 2012, renewed in 2017 and 2022
Sources: Cleveland.com, FOX 8 News