Trustees expected to vote for levy

Oles wants officials to meet with the auditor and create a five-year forecast.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Township trustees are expected to vote Wednesday to place a 2.5-mill levy for police on the March ballot.
That doesn't mean the levy will stay on the ballot, however.
Trustee David Ditzler said that though he most likely will vote to place the levy on the ballot, he also will vote to remove it from the ballot next month if it does not have the support of Trustee-elect Lisa Oles.
Trustee Bo Pritchard added that he will vote to place the levy on the ballot only if it has the support of Oles, who takes office in January.
Oles said she won't support the levy until she believes she can tell township residents that the money is needed.
"I just don't feel comfortable doing that right now," she said.
Trustees are expected to vote at noon Wednesday to place the levy on the ballot. The deadline to put it on the March ballot is Thursday.
Only two votes are needed, and Ditzler and departing Trustee Rich Edwards are expected to cast those votes.
Trustees then will have until Feb. 2 to tell the Mahoning County Board of Elections to remove the levy from the ballot.
Budget cuts
Township officials have said the levy is needed because the township is facing a deficit. They've made several budget cuts and laid off two police officers and seven part-time firefighters to save money this year.
The levy also appeared on the ballot in November and failed by about 900 votes. It would produce about $1.4 million for police annually.
Oles said she wants to wait to decide on the levy until after Jan.1, when she will have more information about the township's 2004 budget. She has said she believes the township can make additional budget cuts and avoid a deficit without laying off firefighters and police.
Oles has been meeting with township department heads to discuss cost-cutting measures. She noted that she also wants township officials to meet with county Auditor George Tablack to discuss creating a five-year financial forecast for the township.
Pritchard said he believes Oles should be able to decide on the levy by Wednesday.
"She's been running for this office for 21/2 years," he said. "She ought to know by now whether she needs a police levy or not. There's no excuse for her not knowing by Wednesday at noon."
Oles responded, "It would be ludicrous for anyone to think I've been carrying around Austintown's budget and expenditures for the last 21/2 years."
hill@vindy.com