Major cuts are on the way for the Big Walnut school district. 

The district's 6.7-mill emergency levy failed by a vote of 3,734 to 3,647 on Nov. 3, according to unofficial results from the Delaware County Board of Elections.

"Obviously, we're disappointed in the outcome," said superintendent Steve Mazzi. "I don't think it's a reflection of the Big Walnut schools or the job our staff does. I think it's more of a reflection of the local and national economy."

Mazzi will sit down with the new school board and review options, he said.

"The problem is, there are only two options. The way schools are funded in the state, we either need additional tax revenue or the school will have to make deeper cuts to balance the budget, which is a state law," he said.

"It doesn't get any better from here," he added.

Cuts for the 2010-2011 school year likely will mean no sports teams or extracurricular activities, except for those that can be self-supporting or paid for by parents, no librarians or art, music or physical education teachers at the elementary schools, 11 fewer teachers and larger classes at the high school.

These cuts will be put into place unless the new board decides on an alternative list of cuts, he said.

The new board may try another levy in the spring, which may be for a higher millage than the failed levy, Mazzi said.

The current recession has reduced property and income taxes, two large sources of revenue for the district, district treasurer Ben Streby has said.

 The district received about $1.3-million less for the 2008-2009 school year than originally projected in November 2008.

That number includes $535,663 less than initially estimated in real estate property taxes, $363,506 less in income taxes, $196,189 less in personal property taxes, $116,430 less in state aid and $45,578 less in property tax allocation.

"We need to wake up tomorrow and educate kids," Mazzi said on Nov. 3.