Salem Township road maintenance levy fails again

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Salem Township’s latest attempt at passing a road maintenance was rejected by voters Tuesday.

According to unofficial results, 53.90 percent of voters voted against the additional tax levy while 46.10 percent voted for the levy. The five-year, 2.9 mill levy was expected to generate $166,800 annually toward road maintenance.

Last November, voters rejected the same levy by a vote of 53.25 percent to 46.75 percent.

Salem Township Trustee Rick Clyburn said Wednesday the election results are disappointing.

“I can understand people don’t want to pay any more taxes,” Clyburn said. “But if they want good roads, it costs something to keep them that way.”

Clyburn said the levy’s failure means more cutbacks and lengthening the amount of time between when the township conducts chip and seal, which could cost more long-term.

Prior to the election, Clyburn said township trustees voluntarily dropped health insurance. With the levy failing, he said the township may have to look at other cuts such as skipping chip and seal and halting other sorts of road repair.

The levy’s failure also impacts winter road maintenance as the township’s money for salt and expenses for snow plows comes out of the same fund.

Clyburn said the township’s next course of action to address road maintenance will be a topic of discussion during their meeting next Tuesday.

“We kind of had some high hopes about it this time, but it wasn’t to be,” Clyburn said.

By Nick Walton

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Nick Walton can be reached at 937-652-1331 Ext. 1777 or on Twitter @UDCWalton.

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