Public Works Director Rob Leichman has said he hasn’t had money in his budget for repaving in four years and the streets need about $5 million worth of work, or $1 million per year.
RELATED: Trenton may reduce tax ask for roads due to gas tax hike
“We have not had any funding to pave roads in the last four years, zero, zilch,” he said. “And it’s not a one for one, the deal with roads is you try to catch them before they fail. You want to catch them in a mediocre range if you will.”
The city originally considered asking for a 6-mill levy, but when the state approved the 10.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax hike, the estimated $293,985 cash infusion allowed officials to decrease the levy request.
“We decided to go ahead and pledge the city’s municipal motor vehicle license fees to this paving,” he said. “That amounts to about $90,000. So that brought down to the 3.9.”
Liberty Twp. debated before deciding to ask voters for a police levy renewal, which wouldn’t cost taxpayers more money. The trustees considered asking for a renewal and a 0.5 new, additional levy, but that did not happen.
The township is negotiating a new five-year contract with the Butler County Sheriff for police protection. The township will need to find another funding source to sustain the four months between the end of the next levy and the first cash installment of a new levy in April 2025, to pay for the contract. Officials have said they may come bak to voters then if growth pushes the need for more deputies.
MORE: After debate, Liberty Twp. residents face no new taxes for police protection
Trustee Board President Steve Schramm said if the township is running low on funds at the end of the sheriff’s contract it can ask the county to release early tax payments, and if that doesn’t cover the need, it can tap the general fund for a short-term loan.
“That April date is when they have to distribute the funds but we can actually petition for them earlier if we’re concerned,” he said. “So the last year in November we can say we want our money as soon as you get it if we feel like it’ll be an issue. So I feel like I’ve got enough safeguards so let’s save our residents a million bucks.”
rustee Christine Matacic argued for the additional tax that would have cost an extra $17 per $100,000 of valuation. She said residents were open to paying “a little extra.”.
Ross Twp. officials say their fire department budget is in “good shape” but they still need to pass a 2.75-mill levy renewal.
The trustees unanimously approved asking voters to approve a renewal levy that would generate $522,275 for fire and paramedic services. The renewal means taxes won’t increase.
Ross and Liberty townships could have captured new valuation if they went for replacement levies, but if the expiring levy is disturbed, taxpayers would lose their state-paid Homestead Exemption tax rollbacks.
MORE: Ross Twp. wants to continue fire department improvements with levy renewal request
Mike Stein, the tax accounting manager in the Butler County Auditor’s Office, said the average home in Ross is valued at about $192,000, so the 2.75 mill renewal tax amount on the average home is $147. The tax on the average home price wouldhave jumped to almost $165 if the trustees chose to replace the levy.
Liberty Twp. voters will also be asked if they want to pass natural gas and electric aggregation on the ballot. Trustee Tom Farrell said officials began talks with Energy Alliances about a year ago and decided it could benefit their residents. People can opt out if they wish.
“It is a company that grabs an entire township, they put it on the ballot and they negotiate a lower rate for both electric and gas for the entire township to have us go to aggregation,” Farrell said. “It decreasing your electric and your gas bill significantly because they contract it out and use economy of scales.”
Tax levy requests for the Nov. 5 election:
• Liberty Twp. is asking for a 3-mill renewal police levy so taxes will not increase
• Ross Twp. is requesting a 2.75-mill fire levy renewal, taxes won’t increase
• Trenton is requesting a new temporary, five-year 3.9-mill road levy
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