Special election polls open today

Four Clark, Champaign schools on ballot after earlier requests failed.


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Get updates online tonight after the polls close and complete coverage in Wednesday’s edition.

Voters today will decide the fate of four school district levies in Clark and Champaign counties.

Polls for the special election will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Clark-Shawnee, Northeastern and Tecumseh local school districts in Clark County are each seeking a different outcome of the same levies voters rejected previously. West Liberty-Salem is on the ballot before voters in Champaign and Logan counties for an issue that would renovate and expand buildings.

Here’s a look at the issues in each county:

Clark County

• Clark-Shawnee: The 10-year, 7.95-mill levy property tax levy would generate nearly $2.5 million per year to avoid an operating deficit. If approved, the tax would cost the owner of a $100,000 home nearly $266 per year, according to the county auditor's office. It was rejected in May by six votes.

• Tecumseh: It is seeking a 12.37-mill, 5-year property tax levy that would generate about $3.5 million for "emergency requirements." It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home nearly $433 a year, according to the county auditor's office. The district faces a possible state takeover if the levy isn't approved by 2014. It was rejected in May by 84 votes.

• Northeastern: A 1 percent earned income tax on currently-employed residents would generate an estimated $4 million annually. It was rejected in November by 2,385 votes.

Champaign County

West Liberty-Salem: The district is seeking approval of a combined 0.25 percent, 23-year income tax to generate revenues for current expenses and a 3.62-mill bond issue to help pay for renovations and additions to the existing school building. The bond issue would repay more than $7.5 million over 27 years. The building project will cost about $33 million with the state picking up about 71 percent.

Combined, they would bring in about $11 million annually, costing the average voter in the school district an additional $254 a year — about $140 in property taxes and $114 in income taxes. Last November, voters rejected a proposed 7.55-mill levy by 194 votes, which would have covered the cost of the project.

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