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Trustees approve cops levy for ballot
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The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Boardman township resident Joe Bush asks a question during Monday's Township Trustees meeting.
BOARDMAN
Township trustees unanimously have approved a resolution to place a police levy on the May ballot.
The levy recommendation is for an additional 3.85-mill, five-year levy, designated specifically for police, that would generate about $3.7 million annually — and would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $116.80 annually.
Public opinion on the levy was divided among the 40 people who attended Monday’s trustees meeting at Trinity Fellowship Church on South Avenue.
“We don’t want a levy put on the ballot,” said township resident Joe Bush. “If it’s put on the ballot, we’re going to vote no. The senior citizens on Social Security can’t afford a levy.”
Mike McCartney of Tara Court called his neighborhood, which is east of Interstate 680, the “forgotten part of Boardman.”
“Everybody’s on a fixed income,” McCartney said. “If you’re working, you’re on a fixed income. I think we can’t afford these taxes anymore.”
He added that his area will vote on an additional Poland school levy in May, and if that and a township levy are on the ballot and are approved, his taxes would increase by $400 to $500.
Trustee Larry Moliterno said levy discussions were not taken lightly.
“The last thing that we ever want to do is ask people to pay more taxes,” Moliterno said.
“... But I’m raising kids in my community. I don’t want to wait for a tragedy to hit Boardman Township before we step up and try to do something about it,” he added.
An additional police levy was defeated by voters in November.
Resident George Farris, who owns a marketing company on Market Street, said he doesn’t want to risk a loss in the police department.
“If that means cutting back on a cable bill and not having HBO, or cutting back on a second car or how much traveling I’m going to do, I’ll do it, because I think that safety is first. The best police protection is what we need,” Farris said.
At the beginning of the meeting, the three trustees agreed to have Police Chief Jack Nichols accept a federal grant that was awarded to the township last spring.
The one-time $413,148 grant will provide the starting salary for two police officers for three years but stipulates that the township pay for a fourth year.
Trustees had considered returning the grant, unsure if the township could afford the fourth year. However, with one officer retiring last summer and another retirement expected at the end of this month, the force will stand at 45 sworn officers, said Trustee Tom Costello.
The trustees will have a second reading of the levy resolution Wednesday.