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Costs, service needs grow along with population in Hartville, Lake Township
By Nancy Molnar Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Sunday, Oct 21, 2007
LAKE TWP.: Township voters on Nov. 6 will consider replacing a 5-year-old levy that would increase fire service funding by about 50 percent.
The replacement levy would bring in about $588,000 a year, an increase over the $391,000 raised annually by the current 1-mill tax.
If the replacement levy passes, the annual cost to the owner of a $100,000 home would rise to about $30.63, officials said. The current rate for the same homeowner is $19.59 annually.
Fire officials want to replace the current levy because state law prevents collection rates on voter-approved levies from rising during their duration. The law effectively limits revenue to the collection level at the time of passage.
Fire administrators say the stagnant revenue stream isn't keeping pace with the needs of the community.
''Hartville and Lake Township are growing,'' said Hartville Fire Chief Richard Kamerer, ''so the number of our emergency calls increases. As our services increase, the cost of providing our services also increases.''
In addition to population growth, inflation drives up the cost of everything a fire department pays for: fuel, utilities, vehicles, equipment and staff, officials said.
Hartville is one of three private fire companies charged with protecting the 35-square-mile township. The others are in Greentown and Uniontown. The departments share revenue from the levy.
Failure to pass the levy would mean less money for each department, according to Lake Township Trustee John Arnold, a former president and secretary of the Hartville department.
''If it doesn't pass, we'll have to review pretty much everything,'' said Uniontown Fire Chief Tom Wiles. ''You have to look at pretty much all the capital improvements, some of the vehicles that need maintenance.''
Passage would allow the Hartville Fire Department to maintain its service, according to Kamerer. That department opened a second station last year in the township's southeastern corner.
''If we do pass the levy, we'll probably be able to increase staffing here at the station,'' said Greentown Fire Chief Vince Harris. ''But if it doesn't pass, we'll have a hard time keeping up manpower and equipment.''
Fire chiefs and township trustees are hoping the community maintains its record of approving fire levies.
''The voters have been extremely good to us over the years,'' Wiles said.
LAKE TWP.: Township voters on Nov. 6 will consider replacing a 5-year-old levy that would increase fire service funding by about 50 percent.
Get the full article here.
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