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Township officials say they will not seek fire district tax levy

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by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Nordonia Hills -- While Northfield Center and Sagamore Hills officials continue discussions of forming a fire district, they have decided they won't ask for a tax increase to fund it.

Trustees of both townships have been meeting since October 2008 to discuss forming a fire district between the two communities, which are both served by the Northfield Center Fire Department.

Trustees had discussed asking voters to approve a new, 2-mill property tax levy to replace township fire levies and raise about $990,000 annually as a separate source of funding for the district.

Trustees on Jan. 25 decided that because of the recession, they will put the 2-mill levy on hold indefinitely.

"We don't want to place a burden on the residents," said Northfield Center Trustee Richard Reville.

According to fire department financial records, the fire department's 2009 expenses totaled about $890,000, with Sagamore Hills paying about $528,000, about 60 percent, and Northfield Center paying about $362,000.

Sagamore Hills voters approved a new five-year, 0.75-mill fire levy in November 2006 which provides about $230,000 each year, with the remainder of the township's share coming from the general fund.

Northfield Center voters approved a five-year 2-mill replacement fire levy in November 2007. It generates about $330,000 annually and township officials say it pays for most of the township's share of fire department operating costs.

Sagamore Hills Trustee Jim Hunt said that with the school district seeking a 6.5-mill operating levy Feb. 2 (See related story on Page 1), he agrees it is best to hold off on a new levy.

"Basically, it's the economy," he said.

Reville said an alternate idea now under discussion is for the district, once established as an independent entity, to "bill" the townships for operating costs based on the percentage of total property value each township has in the district.

Sagamore Hills Trustee Richard Barrett said he expects the split will be about 60 percent for Sagamore Hills and 40 percent for Northfield Center.

Under the current service contract between the two townships, Sagamore Hills pays a fee based on the number of emergency calls the fire department responds to in Sagamore Hills. Presently that adds up to about 60 percent of department calls.

Hunt said using property valuations rather than the current method is "more stable" and easier to budget for.

Northfield Center Trustee Paul Buescher said it would also eliminate disagreements that periodically occur over the number of calls that should or should not be billed to Sagamore Hills.

Hunt said he believes that eventually, the district would have to be self sufficient "like a school district," but that direct support by the townships is doable for the time being.

"Right now, [Sagamore Hills] has the money to fund fire and ambulance service," he said. "I'm thinking another two years at least."

Barrett said any decisions about a levy would be decided by the district's governing board.

"They would decide to put the issue on the ballot," he said.

In the meantime, Trustees say there is no timetable for when a district will be formed.

"There's a lot of work to do before you get started," said Reville.

"I think we're headed in the right direction," said Barrett. "If it was 10 steps, we would be at step eight."

The tasks remaining, said Reville, include selecting a district command staff and a board of trustees and hiring a fiscal officer, as well as purchasing computer accounting software geared towards a district's needs. However, said Reville, with the major hurdle of getting voter approval of a fire levy eliminated, what remains should be handled "expeditiously."

"It's looking really good," he said.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169