UTICA — Utica village residents soundly defeated a proposed 8-mill levy during Tuesday’s election with 398 votes against and 235 votes for the levy.

“This levy is extremely important for Utica for without it we won’t be able to offer the services we had in the past,” said Mayor Larry Friesel. “The council will have to take that dollar amount needed and make appropriations accordingly.”

If the levy would have passed, Friesel said the village would have borrowed against the anticipated revenue, and made some cuts, but the vital services would have remained.

kenesha.beheler@mountvernonnews.com