Perrysburg Twp. tries EMS/fire levy - Sentinel-Tribune | Sentinel-Tribune | Sentinel-Tribune

Perrysburg Twp. tries EMS/fire levy

Written by CHAYSE HELD Sentinel Staff Writer

Saturday, 19 May 2012 07:11

PERRYSBURG - Perrysburg Township Board of Trustees have approved the placement of a new 4-mill continuing levy on the November ballot for the EMS/fire department.
The board unanimously approved the motion at Wednesday's regular meeting.
The levy would be an additional tax, as the burden on the township's general fund has become too big to support the growing expenses for the township's EMS and fire services.
"Over the last 10 years the trustees have funded the deficit from the general fund in an effort to relinquish some of the burden on the taxpayers," Fire Chief Tom Brice said.
"With certain cuts at the state level, decreases in property valuations, things of that nature, the drain on the general fund has become a little bit excessive and can't continue at its current pace or the township is going to run out of money eventually."
The township's EMS services originated in 1987 when the voters approved a 1-mill levy to have personnel available around the clock, Brice said. Since that time there has been no additional levies added to cover increasing expenses.
"This levy, based on the figures we came up with, will carry fire and EMS for at least five years. We'll be solvent for those five years," Brice said.
"This is not for any new personnel or any new services," Brice added. "This is only to maintain the current level of service we provide to the township residents."
If passed, the additional tax levy will commence with tax year 2012 and first due for collection in 2013. The levy would cover both the fire department and EMS services.
The department was originally set up to be independently funded, but growing expenses forced the township to support EMS/fire with money from the township's general fund.