8.28-Mill Avon Lake School Levy Gets Go-Ahead for May Ballot

The Avon Lake Board of Education voted on Jan. 29 to proceed with a 10-year, $6.5 million emergency levy for the May 7 Primary Election.

An 8.28 millage rate was certified by the Lorain County Auditor’s Office.

District Treasurer Autumn Streng said the The annual cost per $100,000 valuation is $253.58.

The meeting was the third held this month to discuss a levy. The last meeting held was to determine the amount the district wanted to generate each year.

A 9.04-mill levy was defeated in November by 675 votes.

Still uncertain is the effect the 2015 closing of the NRG (formerly GenOn) Power Plant will have on the district.

Superintendent of Schools Bob Scott met with spokesperson Mark Baird of  NRG to discuss the plant’s future.

“(Scott) was told the plant is on schedule to close in April 2015,” Streng said. “Mr. Baird did not have any details related to what will happen with the property once the plant closes.”

Avon Lake City Schools receives real estate revenue and Public Utility Personal Property revenue from the power plant.

“Our forecast reflects a $1.8 million decrease in Public Utility Personal Property revenue; however, it does not reflect any reductions to the real estate revenue,” Streng said. “When we first learned of the power plant’s closing last year, the County Auditor advised the Real Estate value could not be determined until the plant closed and it was known what would happen to the property.”

 According to the Lorain County Auditor’s Office, the plant, owned by Orion Power Midwest of Pittsburgh, has a total market value of $51.6 million and has property taxes of $1.353 million (after a state credit) for the 2012 tax year.

A special board meeting has been scheduled for Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Avon Lake High School Media Center to discuss the issue and future funding.