Liberty firefighters irked over absence of levy on November ballot

LIBERTY

The local firefighters union is expressing its ire over trustees’ decision not to put a replacement levy before voters in November.

Chapter 2075 of the International Association of Fire Fighters posted a lengthy status on Facebook urging trustees to reconsider. The filing deadline is Aug. 10.

Justin Graham, chapter president, said the fire department wants voters to decide on replacement fire levies of 1.3 mills and 0.9 mills each.

A 1.3-mill and 0.9-mill levy are in effect as continuous levies. In contrast to renewal levies, continuous levies remain indefinitely and do not need to be re-approved by voters every five years.

Because township voters first approved the continuous fire levies in 1976, however, those measures tax property based on its assessed value in 1976. Property values have increased considerably since then, meaning replacement levies would cost the taxpayer more and generate more revenue.

Read more about the situation in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.