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Chester will vote on levy for police
(by Joan Demirjian - October 05, 2011)
Chester will vote on levy for police
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Chester Township residents will be asked Nov. 8 to approve a renewal levy for the Chester Police Department operations.
The 0.5-mill, five-year levy was first voted on in 1991 and has been supported by voters. As a renewal, it will bring in the same amount without creating new taxes for residents.
Chester Trustee Judy Caputo said, "It's a renewal levy so it's not costing taxpayers more."
The levy generates approximately $104,859 annually and costs $8.56 for each $100,000 of property value.
"The police department has been very prudent in spending and they have a five-year plan so they don't come back for increases," she said.
"The police department is very conservative with its money and will continue to be," Mrs. Caputo said. "It's about long-range planning in these times.
"The last thing we need is additional taxes. Chester has not come back for new money," she said. With the renewal of the police levy, they will not have to go back to voters for additional taxation.
Chester Police Chief Mark Purchase said the renewal levy contributes to funding for general police department operations, manpower and wages, and equipment. "It's for everything we do. It's needed," he said.
Because the department has made cutbacks, there are carryover funds in the budget.
The department will continue to use those carryover funds to offset the differences between what is generated by the tax levies and what is spent, Mr. Purchase said.
"It's our goal to continue to operate on the renewal levies without adding new taxes to residents."
The department has 13 police officers and two part-time positions, with one of them not filled, Mr. Purchase said.
"We have eliminated police dispatch, and we use the Geauga sheriff's dispatch service at no cost," he said of some of the cost-cutting measures taken by the department.
"My goal is to go as far as we can without tax increases," he said.
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