3-MILL LEVIES Financial concerns prompt safety forces to launch campaigns

Girard safety forces unions will fund the campaigns.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The city safety forces have decided to campaign to gain voter approval of two levies to support the police and fire departments.
Voters will cast ballots for or against two 3-mill levies during the Nov. 2 general election to support police and fire protection. Each issue would generate $375,000 annually for five years.
Police Detective John Norman, a representative of the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said that as far as police are concerned, the campaign will consist of signs and fliers.
Because the city is prohibited from contributing to campaigns, the police union will invest about $1,000, Norman explained.
Fire Chief Kenneth Bornemiss said the fire department will begin its campaign the middle of next week and it consist of yard signs, fliers and newspaper ads.
The campaign will be financed by the International Association of Firefighters Local 1220, the chief said.
"We'll try to educate the public how important it is to residents and the department," Norman said.
Cuts
The fire department once had 29 members, but it has been cut by 11 since the city was placed in fiscal emergency in August 2001.
The fire department has been cut from 16 to 12 firefighters, and the ambulance operated by firefighters has been eliminated.
The issues are important to the safety forces because Safety Director Jerry Lambert told them that there could be additional staff cuts if the issues are defeated -- as many as three in each department.
The city continues to face an accumulated general fund deficit of $1.6 million.
The levies, if approved by voters, are designated to maintain current staffing of police and firefighters.
Lambert said that if the levies are approved, the departments will receive $375,000 atop of what they are usually budgeted.
Safety forces budgets won't be cut by $375,000 each before the levy money is added to their budgets, Lambert explained.
In this way, the safety director explained, service will not only be maintained but possibly increased.
Mayor James J. Melfi, who supports the issues, said he will speak to any group or organization to tell of the city's budgetary problems and the need for added revenue.
The mayor said he won't go door to door, asserting the employees should handle the campaigns.
"I believe the public should support it [the levies]," Melfi asserted. "If the voters believe the city is operating lean, they'll vote for them," he added.
yovich@vindy.com