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Editor:
On Feb. 13, 2016, Center Township suffered the loss of its building and all of its equipment, except for the backhoe and police cruiser, to a fire. The Board of Center Township went to work with the help of our community and completely rebuilt our township. Now we have a wonderful new building.
But we have a new problem now -- the funding of Center Township's share of cost for the Lisbon Fire Department, which we share with Elkrun Township and Village of Lisbon.
Our township has two old fire levies which are outdated funding that was created back in the 1980s and 1990s. We have a 2/10 of a mill which creates $8,200 per year and a 5/10 which brings in $19,700 a year. A total of 7/10 of a mill, which brings in $27,900 a year.
The township can't cover our share of the expense with Elkrun Township and Lisbon. We can't take it from road funds because those programs will suffer.
Back in the '80s, Center Township's fire equipment was forced outside in the cold weather. The Center Township Trustees went to work on that problem. Township Trustee Tom Hinchcliffe found a building that all three entities could use. I backed him 100 percent.
Elkrun and Center had a building it could use. Lisbon was asked to join the two townships since we didn't have the money for turn-out gear. Lisbon accepted, and that's how we have three entities sharing the same building. Each entity paid $13,333 for this building, which is shared to this day. Thirty-four years later, all cost to the building is shared to a three-way split.
Today, we run Center's fire levies on $27,900 per year. We simply cannot do it any longer. Firemen have to be paid, most minimum wage. Not much money when someday they may have to put their lives on the line for any one of us.
Not too long ago, voters approved the levy for a new fire truck, which was paid for in three years. As promised, the township trustees removed the levy for the last year. We kept our word to the voters.
Now we are asking for a .286 mill that will bring in $25,000 per year for the years of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Please keep in mind, this is based on today's current rate of taxes. Folks, we are asking for an increase of less than a 1/10 of a mill. The cost for a $100,000 property would be $10.01 per year. Not even the cost of a pizza. This will bring Center's budget up to $52,900 per year.
Oh, by the way, of the three entities, Center has the most fire calls per year. Plus Center pays for a fire contract of $2,000 per year to Hanover Township because they are 5-1/2 to 6 miles out from the Lisbon department. It's no secret the Hanover department is asking for more money also. They do a good job for Center.
Center Township has the lowest budget of all three entities. Please, won't you, the voters of Center Township, consider voting for this levy? Some people say when is enough, enough? We as voters would be surprised if we would see what we are paying and how little it is for fire protection. I think if our firemen save the life of one person, it is worth much, much more than we are paying. Please, I'm begging you to support this levy.
Ken Schreffler
Center Township Trustee