SPRING VALLEY TOWNSHIP — Voters in Spring Valley Township finally passed an additional operating levy.

After failed attempts since May 2015, township residents Nov. 7 approved the five-year, 1.0-mill levy, 368-352. The additional levy will generate approximately $84,000 annually, according to county records, and will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $35 per year.

“It was real nice this morning waking up, and even last night kind of following it a little bit and hoping it was going to stay (trending) in a positive way,” said Trustee Paul Martin, who was re-elected to his trustee seat in the election.

The general fund covers township administration, zoning, salaries, animal and mosquito control, the park and the library. Fiscal Officer Kitty Crockett previously said the township has to pay salaries and provide zoning services. Everything else is done at the discretion of the township trustees and cuts have been made. Martin said there was really nothing else they could do to save money.

“We were trying to figure out for next year, Kitty was going through and she was telling us every expense,” Martin said. “There was nothing that wasn’t essential and we were still (thousands) short.”

The township does have one active operating levy, but it only produces around $6,000 a year, according to Crockett.

At some point the township would like to bring back some items that were cut, but for now, the levy will help the township maintain what it offers now.

“It’s just going to keep things going,” Martin said. “It is a while before we receive some of that money. We haven’t talked about bringing anything back. We didn’t even project having the money or not having the money.”

Township voters also passed a renewal and increase for the fire department, 462-262. The five-year, 1.0-mill levy will generate an additional $84,000 per year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home an extra $35 annually. The current levy, generates $52,000 and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $18.178 per year.