Lucas County voters expanded TARTA to the Holland-Springfield area and throughout the county in the November 2 general election.
According to unofficial results from the Lucas County Board of Elections, the vote totals were 36,253 (55 percent) in favor and 29,535 (45 percent) against.
The decision repealed the two property taxes that had funded TARTA for many years and replaced them with a countywide, half-cent sales tax.
“This is the end result of so much work by so many people, so it’s an exciting time to be at TARTA, and we’re so happy to have the confidence and support of the public as we push forward,” said TARTA board of trustees president Kelsie Hoagland.
TARTA had been the only large transit agency in Ohio still funded by property tax revenue.
In other issues, voters approved a 0.7-mill, five-year renewal property tax levy for the county’s 911 emergency public safety and dispatching system by a vote of 45,187 (68 percent) to 21,329 (32 percent).
A 0.65-mill, five-year replacement property tax levy for Toledo Zoo operations and maintenance also passed 47,872 (72 percent) to 18,628 (28 percent).
Springfield Township voters strongly supported a 1.8-mill, five-year replacement property tax levy for township fire and EMS services equipment and personnel by a vote of 2,159 (74 percent) to 777 (26 percent).
However, Lucas County voters turned down a 0.1975-mill, five-year replacement property tax levy for operation and maintenance of the Imagination Station science center in downtown Toledo. The vote totals were 34,007 (51 percent) against and 32,302 (48 percent) in favor.
In candidate races, two seats on the board of trustees for Springfield Township were up for election. Incumbents Bob Bethel and Tom Anderson Jr. were re-elected, receiving 2,001 and 2,043 votes, respectively. Write-in candidate Georgia Rogers garnered 72 votes.
Four seats were open on the Springfield Board of Education.
Returning to office will be incumbents Sherri Koback, 2,223 (36 percent); Rachel Geiger, 2,115 (34 percent), and Ev Harris, 1,919 (31 percent). They did not face any opposition.
No candidate filed for the unexpired term on the school board ending December 2023, so the board will appoint a new member to fill the vacancy.
Four seats also were open on Holland Village Council.
Elected were incumbents Mike Bettinger, 125 (38 percent) and Ryan Spangler, 117 (36 percent) along with newcomer Nathan Gaubert, 87 (26 percent).
Council will have to appoint a new member to fill the vacant fourth seat.
Incumbent Councilman Scott Brown ran unopposed for an unexpired term that ends December 2023, and he garnered 139 votes.
