[ back ]
Other township services depend on fire levy
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - October 01, 2009)
Other township services depend on fire levy
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
When Chardon Township voters go to the polls in November, the services they've grown accustomed to may hang in the balance.
Voters in the township will be asked to support a 2.5-mill, three-year fire levy, which will generate approximately $388,903 annually to pay for fire and rescue services.
For every $100,000 of property valuation, residents will pay $76.56. That represents a $20.94 increase over what is now paid on an expiring 2-mill levy for those services.
Without support for the new levy, township officials said, life will definitely change for those living in the township. The levy defeat would mean there is no money coming in to provide those services, and officials likely would have to make cuts in all services to provide fire service.
"It would be lights out in the township," Trustee Steven Borawski said.
Townships are required by state law to provide fire protection for residents but not rescue services, he said.
Still, Mr. Borawski said, the township will be forced to find $300,000 for fire services, and the task will not be easy for a township that operates on a "shoestring budget."
He said many people are under the impression that, if they turn down the levy, the township still will have a stream of money coming in that can be used for fire and rescue services. However, the reality is the township will have no money specifically coming in to handle that cost, Mr. Borawski said. "As of Dec. 31, we would not have any money coming in."
Instead, he said, what will occur is a change from what people have become accustomed to, from the township's annual trash day to a road department that may be cut in half in terms of personnel. "We may have to shut down a bunch of things," Mr. Borawski said.
He said he could see himself calling for layoffs of two members of the five-member crew that handles roads. He said his call might come almost immediately if the levy is defeated.
Residents will see a change in the township's ability to handle snowplowing as efficiently as in the past.
Township Road Superintendent Donald Mohney said cutting two people from his staff would mean that instead of roads being cleared of snow in a matter of hours, it will be an all-day affair. "We won't be able to keep up," he said.
Residents will feel the impact, he said, "They notice right away when there's any change in service."
Mr. Borawski said snowplowing won't be the only thing affected. He said the township likely also would have to cancel plans for road projects. Instead, it will have to concentrate on maintaining the condition of the roads as they are now.
The only likely survivor will be a Clark Road project that is expected to receive state funds to handle much of the cost, he said.
He said the township also would likely have to delay plans for replacing township vehicles or building a salt bin.
Trash day, an annual event that allows residents to bring in large items for disposal, also could be eliminated. And, he said, progress being made at the township's new recreation park would come to a standstill.
"If it doesn't pass, we're going to have a lot of problems," Mr. Borawski said. "People have to understand there are consequences."
The road department also may see fringe benefits, like health coverage, cut from their pay package and they would basically be working for wages, he said. That could cause an exodus of the three remaining workers, who would leave for better benefits, he said.
Mr. Borawski said ambulance service might drastically change because the township would no longer contract for it. Instead of calling 911 in emergencies, residents may be advised to look in their telephone books to find an ambulance service to help them.
If the levy is defeated, he said, township officials would go back to the ballot in an attempt to get funding back in place. Mr. Borawski said that likely would mean the township will hold a special election and that would cost the township probably between $4,000 and $6,000.
"People don't understand that's what we're up against," he said.
[ back ]
