Jerome Township is looking at a possible new fire levy for the November ballot.
With the growth of Jerome Village and the fire division planning to build a second station, township officials are saying the current levies wouldn’t be enough to cover staffing and equipment for two stations.
“At some point, our levies are just going to continue to roll back until there’s nothing left,” Stewart said. “We’ll have to look at additional millage but we just have to figure out the best one, the best route for us and the township.”
Jerome currently operates from three levies—two of which have been in place since the early 1990s.
“Ohio law does not allow for levies to collect essentially more than what they did when they were voted,” said Union County Auditor Andrea Weaver who was also at the meeting. “Over time, as values go up, the rates will go down.”
She said the levies are set so that the revenue is never more than what was approved by the voter at the approval of the levy.
“So when you have an area that grows significantly, the revenue does not grow to match the growth in value,” Weaver said. “If there are no new levies or a levy expiring, and it’s not an update year, then rates would not change significantly from year to year.”
The county is in the middle of a six-year valuation update, Weaver said, so the values for Jerome Township are likely to change.
The levy passed in 1991 is a 2.3 mill levy that brings around $300,000 into the township. The 2011 levy is 2.9 mills and brings in more than $800,000. A levy passed in 1992 is the largest at 10 mills and brings in $1.3 million.
Chief Stewart said the Jerome Village development contributed $5.5 million to the new station, which would help with the build and initial equipment stocking.
Trustee Ron Rhodes said that is his biggest concern looking at the new station, however, is the covering of labor costs.
“Labor costs are it. That’s our big one,” Rhodes said. “Just running the rough numbers in my head and looking at the current levies, I just don’t see it.”
Stewart said with adding the new station, there would be nine people on duty per day.
“That would allow us to staff two medic units and one of those would be cross-staffed with an engine,” Stewart said. “One station might be on an EMS call but the other station would be able to back it up.”
He added that there are other costs to consider such as a remodel of the current station on U.S. 42, built in the early 1990s, and the addition of a ladder truck.
“Our community really needs a ladder truck. Especially with the growth and size of houses coming up in the new developments,” he said. “Our closest ones are Marysville and Washington Township.”
He added that nothing has been decided yet, but they are “looking at all their options.” A decision to put something on the November ballot will need to be in by August, according to the auditor. Township officials said they are starting the conversation now and will likely have more information at the next meeting.