The Edison Local School District is looking to voters to approve the renewal of a 5.9-mill levy this fall to help maintain operations.

  School board officials took official action at a recent meeting to place the measure on the Nov. 7 ballot. The current levy has generated more than $2 million annually, but officials finalized figures for the renewal through the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office and district Treasurer Lisa Bruzzese said they were being set at $3 million.

     “There will be a 5.9-mill renewal levy back on the ballot in November and we passed the last one back around 2019,” said Superintendent Bill Beattie. “It’s a renewal for operations and there will be no extra cost to voters.”

   Voters previously renewed the operational levy to fill a void left by decreasing tax revenue from Harbor Energy, formerly First Energy Corp., in the wake of impending shutdowns of the W.H. Sammis Plant in Stratton as well as other coal-fired facilities in the area.  The levy has brought in an estimated $1.9 million annually and also helps close the $1.6 million financial gap caused by the loss of revenue from the forthcoming closure in July.

   Beattie said the district expects to feel a steep impact in the future.

  “It’s still looming,” he added.

   The district has also gained some funding from gas and oil pipeline revenue, but leaders said it is not guaranteed and the amount could fluctuate each year.