More Than $3 Million Spent In Failed Levy Campaign

Figures from the Franklin County Board of Elections show supporters for the Columbus Schools levy campaign spent $3 million in their failed effort. Voters turned down the levy by a more than 2 to 1 margin. Jonathan Beard worked to defeat the campaign. His No Cheaters, No Charters group and others opposed raised about $6,000. Beard says it did not surprise him that the levy did not pass. “The landslide loss was because it was an initiative that everyone could find something to hate in it. There was a charter school issue. There was a school fraud issue and there was a property tax issue. And there was just so much there," says Beard. The Reimagine Columbus campaign is considered to be one of the most expensive school-levy campaigns ever in Ohio.