WILMINGTON — Voters approved both of the proposed tax renewals for local school districts in Tuesday’s primary election.

The renewal of the Wilmington City Schools’ (WCS) 1-percent, five-year income tax passed 1,432 to 590 (71 percent for and 29 percent against).

The renewal of the Blanchester Local Schools (BLS) 1-mill, five-year permanent improvements levy passed 526 to 131 (80 percent for and 20 percent against).

After the results were known, Wilmington City Schools Superintendent Ron Sexton said Tuesday night, “We’re going to bed happy. I thank our supporters. We don’t take their support for granted. We work very hard to be good stewards, and we will continue to be cautious in what we spend.”

The WCS’ 1-percent income tax generates 15 percent of the district’s operating budget.

“This is operating money, not extra money,” Sexton said in an election preview article in the News Journal.

Because it is a renewal levy, taxes for residents of the school district will not increase due to the levy. The schools’ 1-percent income tax has been in place beginning in January 2003.

Before Tuesday’s passage, voters in the district had approved the schools’ 1-percent income tax three prior times: fall 2011, fall 2007, and the first time at a special election in February 2002.

However, WCS voters have defeated income tax proposals four times this century: fall 2000, spring 2001, fall 2001, and then again in spring 2007 — the last one representing a setback following the 2002 passage.

The history of the voting results is of interest. In fall 2000, a proposed 1 percent, eight-year income tax was rejected 61 percent to 39 percent (4,364 against and 2,816 for); in spring 2001, a proposed 0.75 percent, five-year income tax lost 57 percent to 43 percent (2,209 against and 1,671 for); and in fall 2001, a proposed 1 percent, five-year income tax was turned down 51 percent to 49 percent (2,647 against and 2,579 for).

Then, in February 2002, a proposed 1 percent, five-year income tax was approved 51.5 to 48.5 percent (2,729 for and 2,570 against).

But in spring 2007, the income tax lost 56 percent to 44 percent (1,637 against and 1,276 for).

The school income tax went right back on the ballot that fall, and bounced back by winning 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent (3,183 for and 2,879 against).

In fall 2011, the last time around prior to Tuesday, voters renewed the income tax 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent (3,548 for and 2,516 against).

That first school income tax proposal in fall 2000 was accompanied by a campaign slogan of “Vote YES for K.I.D.S. — Keep Improving District Schools”. A January 2001 News Journal article reported, “This alternative source of school funding elicited a lot of letters to the editor and, in the end, opposition at a 61 percent rate on the November [2000] ballot.”

In the build-up to the voting in Blanchester, Blanchester Local Schools Superintendent Dean Lynch said, “We have buses that are older than our students.”

Blanchester Local Schools Board President Keith Gibson had said, “The five-year levy was first approved by district voters in 1987, and has been supported by the community six times in its 30-year history. Not increasing taxes and keeping the Homestead Exemption tax break for our taxpayers was a factor in going with a renewal.”

All dollars received from the levy can be used only for capital outlay projects in the district, stated district officials. The levy is estimated to annually generate $110,000.

“One hundred and ten thousand dollars sounds like a lot of money, and it is,” said District Treasurer Darlene Kassner. “However, the cost of one school bus exceeds $80,000, which doesn’t leave much money for other capital projects in the district.”

District Transportation Supervisor Barb Prater had said, “Even with the purchase of three new buses the last couple of years, the average age of our fleet is approaching 15 years. The life expectancy of a school bus is about 10 years.”

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768, and John Hamilton at 937-382-2574.