OAK HARBOR, Ohio — Even with the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant officially remaining open, the Benton-Carroll-Salem School District is still not out of their financial struggles.
That's exactly why the district still needs an emergency levy to pass.
Benton-Carroll-Salem school leaders are on the campaign trail this week asking voters to pass a $3.9 million emergency-operating levy in a special election next month that would generate $1.6 million a year.
Although the news of the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant remaining open is good for the district, their budget is still falling short.
After the power plant's taxable value dropped from $184 million to $49 million, the district lost $4.6 million dollars they used to generate every year.
Additionally, after only getting one of two levies passed last year, the district had to put this emergency levy on the ballot.
If it passes, it won't cover the entire shortfall but it will help keep the district operating at it's current level.
"Not making up the full loss of what we've lost in the devaluation, but with the levies and internal cuts that's how we're going to survive as a school district," B-C-S school treasurer Cajon Keeton said.
"A strong school district helps attract new jobs, makes the community viable and attractive to new investments. So, for a whole host of reasons, it's a wise thing to do," Superintendent Guy Parmigian said.
The special election for the emergency operating levy is on Aug. 6, but early voting is already underway.