Shawnee School District faces financial challenge over tax payment issue

<p class="p1">Shawnee Community School District No. 84  again is facing a financial challenge which is related to an outside source.</p><p class="p1">Rockland Capital, which has a power plant located in Grand Tower, hasn't paid its tax bill for 2015, leaving Shawnee short $1.4 million.</p><p class="p1">Rockland Capital filed an appeal to the Jackson County Board of Review to have the value of the property reduced in January of this year.</p><p class="p1">District 84 serves Union, Jackson and Alexander counties.</p><p class="p1">The company lost the appeal, but is now appealing its 2016 taxes. </p><p class="p1">Shawnee District No. 84 superintendent Shelly Clover-Hill said that in September, the district met with Rockland Capital to mediate a compromise. She said the firm walked away from the mediation. </p><p class="p1">Clover-Hill said that the school district has funds in reserve. "We would prefer to leave the money in reserve," Clover-Hill said.</p><p class="p1">"We are able to stay in operation until the end of the school year," she added.</p><p class="p1">Clover-Hill said the district is speaking to its lawyers about short-term and long-term plans.</p><p class="p1">The Jackson County Board of Review is scheduled to again meet in January 2016.</p>