Clark-Shawnee schools levy passes by narrow margin

Unofficial tally shows 11-vote difference.

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Voters in the Clark-Shawnee Local School District have passed the levy, according to Tuesday night’s unofficial results by the Clark County Board of Elections. The levy was the only local one on the ballot for any area school district.

The continuing 12.1-mill substitute levy will continue to generate $4.7 million for district operations.

Clark-Shawnee school district residents appeared to approve the levy after voters rejected it two previous times.

According to unofficial results, 50.32% of voters are for the levy and 49.68% are against it.

The substitute levy would combine two existing operational levies — an emergency levy first approved in 2012 that generates $2.4 million annually and an emergency levy first approved in 2014 that generates $2.2 million annually. It will not raise taxes as this is the same amount the district now collects.

Superintendent Brian Kuhn said it’s wonderful to have this levy pass after it was rejected twice.

“It is a great relief and with great appreciation that it appears the residents of Springfield Twp. have approved this important school levy,” he said.

The levy, which accounts for 23% of the district’s existing operating expenses, would continue to pay for operating expenses for the district such as supplies, utilities, salaries, materials and programs.

This levy would maintain current funding for the district by combining the two existing levies without adding new taxes for current residents. Because taxpayers are already paying on these existing levies, taxes will not increase as a result of approval of the substitute levy, and it does not increase the amount of local funding the district receives.

In May, voters rejected the levy with 52.88%, or 1,311, voting against and 47.12%, or 1,168 for it. Last November, voters rejected with 51.93%, or 1,104, voting against and 48.07%, or 1,022 for it.

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