GIRARD Issues for police, seniors discussed

Representatives say both issues are desperately needed.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Residents learned the nuts and bolts behind a tax levy and city income tax increase that will appear on the ballot in November.
Girard Police Chief Frank Bigowsky spoke to residents about the 0.25-percent income tax increase over three years for police services, and members of Citizens for Trumbull County Seniors spoke to residents about the 0.75-mill levy for senior services to appear on the ballot.
Jack O'Connell of Citizens for Trumbull County Seniors said voters need to have the facts before going to the ballot box. He said the need for senior services is constantly growing, but available services are being cut.
"We are trying to get out the fact that even though many programs for seniors are still on, they have been cut back drastically due to funding," he said.
O'Connell said he cannot imagine anyone being apprehensive about voting in favor of the levy. The need for the levy is very high in the county, he said, and the sources for revenue are shrinking.
Lora Carey, also of Citizens for Trumbull County Seniors, said the low actual cost to each individual property owner in relation to the services that will be provided with the funds is another reason for voters to accept the levy. She said a homeowner with property valued at $100,000 would pay about $22 annually.
"In Trumbull County we have a tradition of taking care of our own and less than two dollars a month to help those who built this community is an affordable cost," she said.
What money would do
The levy would generate $2.5 million annually. The funds would go toward programs such as prescription assistance, home-delivered meals, in-home services, transportation, adult protection services and community centers.
Bigowsky said passage of the income tax levy for police services in November will likely directly affect the number of officers patrolling city streets.
"We are in dire need of getting people back to work and the only way we are going to get people back is to pass this levy," he said.
Bigowsky said the department is down 12 employees from the time the city went into fiscal emergency. He is hoping to be able to bring back two officers and one dispatcher at a minimum.
The department, Bigowsky said, is operating at minimum staffing. An officer was just placed in the schools as a resource officer, he said, but that made one shift one person short. He said the department cannot continue to operate with a shortage in manpower.
Bigowsky said the department, with more staff, would be able to do more traffic enforcement and other things that directly affect residents.
Should the tax not pass, Bigowsky said, residents may see more cuts in services.
jgoodwin@vindy.com