Ross police levy passes

The third time turned out to be a charm indeed for the Ross Township Police Department as voters overwhelmingly passed Issue 4 to fund full-time police protection, according to unofficial results from the Butler County Board of Elections.

“I think people finally realized that if they wanted a police department, it was do or die,” said Trustee Ellen Yordy. “I’m glad they decided to do.”

Yordy said that passing the levy was a true “grassroots effort.”

“The people were interested, the businesses were interested, the schools were behind and we got information out to all of the people,” she said. “We are all partners in this.”

Township officials warned that if Issue 4 did not pass, its police department would have to disband.

Two previous attempts, including one in August last year, to implement a levy for the department failed.

This time, however, the voters opted to approve a 2.75 mill tax for each hundred dollars of valuation, generating $508,035 per year, and would restore the Ross Twp. Police Department to a 24/7 operation with a full-time chief, said Bob Bass, the township administrator.

Bass encouraged residents to go to the Butler County Auditor’s website to see exactly what it will cost each.

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