Lebanon passes 9-mill fire levy, other Warren County issues win too

Lebanon’s 9-mill fire levy passed Tuesday by almost 800 votes, according to unofficial election results.

More than 58 percent of votes counted Tuesday were for the levy, which replaces an existing 7-mill levy and adds 2 mills.

It passed 4,507 to 3,228 with all 14 city precincts counted, according to unofficial results.

“The residents of our great city truly believe in the significance and importance of our fire department and EMS services,” Mayor Amy Brewer said. “Those are vital services we provide for our residents.”

Elsewhere in Warren County, every issue except one charter amendment was adopted, according to election-night tallies.

Lebanon officials say the money is needed to continue to employ more full-time firefighters and build a new fire station.

RELATED: Lebanon fire levy needed to retain added full-timers, build new station

Back in March, the city council voted unanimously to put the issue on the fall ballot, rather than a smaller increase to the existing 7-mill levy, which was expiring at the end of next year.

Without the additional tax revenue anticipated, city leaders say they would be unable to afford to continue to employ six full-time firefighters funded temporarily through a federal grant.

In addition, plans to relocate the main fire station from downtown to land recently purchased on the Warren County Fairgrounds would stall.

For every $100,000 of home value, the levy is expected to cost $303 a year, $70 more than the existing 7-mill levy. It is projected to raise $4 million a year, an additional $839,000 a year over the existing levy.

In November 2013, more than 63 percent of voters approved the 7-mill replacement levy.

Brewer said moving the fire station is “our next step.”

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Election-night totals in Mason showed voters passed a charter issue limiting the density of development in this growing city just north of the Hamilton-Warren county line.

The density issue caps at eight per acre the number of units in multi‐family dwellings, condominiums, “landominiums” and townhouses, except in overlay areas established by the city council.

Election night results had the margin at 10,052 in support to 3,352 against.

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The other issue, requiring the council to avoid possible conflicts of interest when buying and selling land failed, 6,766 to 5,707.

In another fast-growing community in the Morrow area, voters in Hamilton Twp. passed a 1-mill renewal for police, and 1.25 mills in street funding.

The police issue passed, 8,513 to 2,936, and the street issue 6,725 to 4,711.

Outside Lebanon, about 60 percent of Turtlecreek Twp. voters supported both electric and gas aggregation issues, according to election results.

East of Waynesville, more than 60 percent of Harveysburg voters renewed a 2 mill, five year levy for police services and a 2.5 mill, five year general operating levy, according to unofficial final results.

In Harlan Twp., more than 77 percent of election-night tallies were for a 1 mill renewal for fire department funding.

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