The Blade
SYLVANIA, Ohio — If voters reject a 1.5-mill fire levy on Nov. 4, the Sylvania Township Fire Department may close a fire station.
At Wednesday night’s community forum Fire Chief Jeffrey Kowalski laid out the details of the department’s finances for voters. The forum was hosted by the Sylvania Citizens for Fire Services. It is one of two being held this month to inform citizens about the fire budget.
Chief Kowalski spoke for about 20 minutes, telling a group of about 20 citizens how the department would operate if the levy passes and how it will operate if the levy does not pass. The department services both Sylvania Township and the City of Sylvania.
The proposed continual 1.5-mill operating levy would collect about $1.8 million annually and would cost the homeowner of a $150,000 house $78 a year. Officials said the levy’s revenue will suffice for seven years. With the department facing a $1.3 million deficit in 2016, the chief said that if voters reject the levy, the department would lay off firefighters and possibly close one of its four fire stations.
Chief Kowalski also directly addressed residents’ concerns during a question-and-answer session. In response to a question about why the department has multiple levies on the books, Chief Kowalski explained that some of the seven continual levies date back to the 1980s. The levies, he said, depreciate over time, requiring the department to go back to voters.
The oldest levy, a 1-mill measure, was first passed in 1976 and renewed in 1982. It is expected to collect $335,000 this year. This year, the fire department expects to take in a little more than $7 million in revenue, while its total expenses are projected to be $8.2 million. The deficit is covered by a carried-over cash reserve that was $2.3 million at the first of the year. Currently the homeowner of a $150,000-valued home pays $240 annually for the seven taxes.
Once voters approve a levy, the revenue it generates never increases, the chief said. Even if a home’s value appreciates, the levy will not bring in more, he said. The 1976 levy will never bring in more than a $1.8 million, Administrator John Zeitler explained.
However, if home values depreciate, the levy can collect less money, which is what happened with the 1.25-mill levy of 2008.
“It was supposed to generate $1.86 million, but it only produced $1.5 million,” Chief Kowalski said.
Further, fire officials explained the area’s population has grown 10 percent in the last decade, which means the department’s call volume also is increasing. Since 2004, calls for service increased by 47.6 percent, led by emergency medical incidents.
If the levy passes the department will restore the jobs of three full-time firefighters. In 2003 the department had 62 full-time firefighters, and 57 in 2013.
To save money, the department has stopped replacing equipment.
If the levy passes, the department plans to replace two fire engines and a medic truck, and replace four support vehicles and upgrade an air-supply truck.
“We have two cars that are falling apart because they are rusted,” Chief Kowalski said.
Copyright 2014 The Blade
All Rights Reserved