Part of next year's budget for the Clinton School district remains in question because of a tax issue that is currently unresolved.

The Clinton School district is currently in negotiations with Exelon Nuclear Power Station over their assessed property values. Superintendent of Clinton Schools, Dr. Jeff Holmes explains the school district and Exelon have not come to an agreement and the proposition Exelon has brought forward would be a significant decrease from where the value sits as of right now.

[audio:52312clintonexelon1.mp3] [/audio]

The DeWitt County Board of reviews has upheld Clinton Schools assessment of $240-million, but Dr. Holmes says Exelon has a track record of taking an appeal to the Property Tax Appeal Board. The district will have to prepare to spend $217-million, despite collecting $240-million, because if the Appeal Board sides with Exelon, that will be all the district can use.

[audio:52312clintonexelon2.mp3] [/audio]

There is hope the two sides can come to an agreement before the case gets taken to the Property Tax Appeal Board. Dr. Holmes notes that has happened on many occasions. He says this year's process is a little disheartening because of the way Exelon has handled things.

[audio:52312clintonexelon3.mp3] [/audio]

The process at the Property Tax Appeal Board level could take anywhere from six months up to several years simply because the Board is so far behind with appeals.

Dr. Holmes is still holding out hope the two sides can reach an agreement. An agreement traditionally sets the value with a small annual increase every year for multiple years.