Warren County village jousting with Renaissance Festival survives vote to dissolve

Harveysburg survived Election Day, but faces a tough path ahead with residents opposed to increasing taxes.

The village of 550 in Warren County voted against dissolving the village 55% to 45% on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Warren County Board of Elections. Just 276 residents voted.

Resident Mike Hatfield filed the petition to dissolve out of frustration with new building inspection fees and a village council he felt was not responsive to residents.

Harveysburg is still facing a court battle to keep the Ohio Renaissance Festival, which provides 14% of the village's overall revenue. The case is scheduled to go before a judge this May.

Residents made it clear they are opposed to paying more taxes with 61% voting against an operating levy and 64% voting against a police levy.

Former mayor Richard Verga was elected to serve on the village council. Mark Tipton, the council member who proposed an admissions tax on Ohio Renaissance Festival tickets, was not reelected.

Erin Glynn is the watchdog reporter for Butler, Warren and Clermont counties through the Report For America program. The Enquirer needs local donors to help fund her grant-funded position. If you want to support Glynn's work, you can donate to her Report For America position at this website or email her editor Carl Weiser at cweiser@enquirer.com to find out how you can help fund her work.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio village will continue to exist, fight for Renaissance Festival