Jerome Township voters will cast their ballots on a proposed police levy renewal and two zoning referendums.
The township has placed a renewal of its police levy of 1.1 mills with a 0.1 mill increase for five years on the November ballot.
If the police protection levy passes, the monies generated will fund the township’s dedicated public safety officers, along with a portion of the cost for a school resource officer, provided through the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Director of Departments Douglas Stewart said the public safety officers provide “coverage above and beyond what the regular road deputies cover.”
“It’s not 24/7 coverage, but it’s close,” Stewart said.
Jerome Township shares four PSOs with Millcreek Township, which contributes 20% of the cost. Jerome is currently working on a contract with the Sheriff’s Office to add a fifth PSO and will likely pay 100% of the cost.
The township also contributes 25% of the cost of a school resource officer that works in the two Dublin City Schools located in Jerome.
In 2020, Jerome Township paid $270,315 for the services provided by the PSO program. The cost is projected to be $295,000 in 2021, according to information from the township.
If approved, the levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home approximately $31 per year. Under the current levy, the same homeowner is paying $27.50 annually.
Stewart explained that the township elected to place a renewal levy with an increase on the ballot because it will maintain the rollbacks in place.
He said older levies are grandfathered into a program in which the “state picks up rollbacks.” A new levy would no longer be eligible for the program.
For that reason, Stewart said a new levy collecting at 1 mill would actually cost taxpayers more than renewing the 1.1 mills levy, which currently collects at an effective rate of 0.89 mills, and adding the 0.1 mill increase.
Stewart said the levy can only be used to pay for police protection. Any excess funds must be carried forward to pay for police protection.
He said he would ultimately like to see increased staffing at the Union County Sheriff’s Office to provide better coverage throughout the county.
Until that happens, Stewart said the PSO program is one way to ensure the township receives dedicated coverage.
“We want our residents to feel safe and this is one way we can do that,” he said.
Two zoning referendums are also on the November ballot.
The first surrounds a proposed development on the south side of Brock Road between Hyland-Croy Road and the overpass with U.S. 33 commonly known as The Homestead at Scotts Farm.
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously May 5 to rezone the 139.4 acre area from Rural Residential District (RU) to Planned Development District (PD).
If the rezoning is upheld, developers plan to build 248 single-family homes, which they have said will sell for approximately $500,000.
The zoning for a residential development within Jerome Village, called Village Neighborhood 10 (VN-10), will also be decided by voters.
On July 6, the trustees voted 3-0 to rezone the 69.59 acre area on the southeast corner of Jerome Road and Blaney Road from Rural Residential District (RU) to Planned Development District (PD).
The rezoning would allow for the development of 149 single-family homes valued between $400,000 and $500,000.
If a majority of voters oppose the zoning amendments, the land will remain zoned as Rural Residential Districts.
Stakeholders for both developers are plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit filed in federal court in July. Among other property owners and developers, they claim that the township violated their property rights and discriminated against them during the zoning process.
The township has filed a motion to dismiss the suit.
Plaintiffs later offered a settlement for $13.4 million along with zoning changes, though the township has not taken action surrounding the offer.