Special election is set
By Ed Runyan
NEWTON FALLS
Village residents will be asked at the Aug. 7 special election to approve a new 3.5-mill levy for police protection that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $122.50 per year.
Council approved putting the measure on the ballot last week. It is expected to be filed with the Trumbull County Board of Elections within the next week or two.
Tarry Alberini, a member of a citizens committee promoting passage of the levy, says declining revenues make it necessary to seek the additional $210,000 per year to keep the police department operating at current levels.
“It’s to maintain what we have and not go backward with a reduction of officers,” said Alberini.
“We have to have strong safety forces in the community,” he said, adding that one of the biggest challenges to the community right now appears to be drug abuse.
Alberini said he thinks “the majority” of Newton Falls residents and committee members believe the police department is “doing a pretty good job.”
As for his own political philosophy, Alberini says he’s not normally a big advocate for increased taxes. “I’m not a big advocate for increasing government, believe me. Our group of bipartisan folks are just saying we want to keep what we’ve got.”
The close proximity of Newton Falls to Interstate 76 and the Ohio Turnpike means that crime comes into the village, Alberini said.
Lyle Waddell, Newton Falls mayor, said he supports the levy proposal, in part because the village has a low income-tax rate of 1 percent, but he will be content with whatever the public decides.
“It’s time to put it out there and let the public vote on the levy,” Waddell said.
Reduced revenue also is driving a proposal approved by village council recently to ask the city manager, Jack Haney, to open negotiations with the county 911 center to have the village join the Trumbull County dispatching operation.
The village currently has its own dispatching operation.
“I would hope we can work something out where we can go to the county 911 center and hopefully find employment for our dispatchers,” Waddell said.
He added that officials always talk about the need for collaboration, and this is a good way to do that.
“This is one way to work with the county, save money and still provide a quality service for citizens,” Waddell said.
Haney said he and Police Chief John Kuivila have met with Chief Deputy Ernie Cook of the sheriff’s office, who also is the county 911 director, and they are still in talks.
They are talking about the possibility of hiring current Newton Falls dispatchers to work for the county, Haney said, adding that Cook provided Newton Falls “options regarding the range of services,” such as whether Newton Falls would continue to have someone answer the phone for nonemergency calls or whether the county would provide that.