ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Voters across Belmont County let their votes be their voices on Tuesday, and they passed levies pertaining to transportation, Union Local Schools, St. Clairsville Memorial Park and Martins Ferry Police.

A levy to generate revenue for Shadyside’s general fund, however, was defeated.

The 1.35-mill levy received 358 votes, while 416 voted against it. Money generated by the levy would have gone to the village’s general fund, which covers most all operations in the village.

Village officials have estimated the levy would have cost property owners $47 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s assessed value over the next five years.

Passing by a narrow margin of just 27 votes was a 3-mill permanent improvement levy for the Union Local School District. Election night totals showed the levy receiving 1,157 votes, while 1,130 voted against it.

According to Superintendent Zac Shutler, the levy will help upgrade and maintain the high school and elementary buildings that opened in the late 1990s, as well as the middle school, which was built in 1959. There are needs to fix the pipes, electrical outlets, roofs that are leaking there and the sidewalks, he noted.

In St. Clairsville, a 0.5-mill renewal levy for Memorial Park passed with a vote total of 1,467 in favor, and 898 against.

Park board members have reported that since the last levy was passed five years ago, the bath house at Allen Pool has been refurbished. There are new restrooms, changing booths and showers there. There is also new playground equipment at the shelter near the pool.

In Martins Ferry, a 5-mill police levy was approved after receiving 572 votes in favor and 176 against.

Originally approved by voters and last renewed in 2020, the levy generates about $300,000 annually and is dedicated solely to police department salaries, according to city officials.

A 2.5 mill levy to benefit East Ohio Regional Transportation Authority operations in Bellaire, Bridgeport, Brookside, Shadyside and Yorkville also passed with 1,691 resident voting in favor, and 898 against it.