Bethel Twp. fire department seeks emergency levy for $398K per year

July 25--The Bethel Twp. Fire Department wants to put an emergency five-year, 2-mill levy on the November ballot, the first time it's asked for new tax money since 2002.

Bethel Twp. trustees are expected to vote tonight on putting the issue on the ballot. If approved by voters, it would generate about $398,000 a year. Bethel Twp. is the most populous township in Clark County, with more than 18,000 residents.

Several factors influenced the fire department decision to seek the levy, Bethel Twp. Fire Department Chief Jacob King said.

"With the current inflation, cost of equipment and what needs to replaced, there is nowhere near enough to keep going forward ... We have two medic units that need repairs, air masks and fire gear that are expiring, and large dollar requirements that need replaced," he said.

The department has averaged almost 2,200 calls in each of the past few years, with nearly 1,800 of those being EMS calls. King has noticed an almost three-fold increase in calls since he began in 2004 and said that's contributed extra wear and tear to the vehicles and equipment.

One of the biggest problems the department would face if the levy doesn't pass would be its insurance rating, King said. Fire departments are rated on a variety of factors, including their response times, which then affects homeowner's insurance rates. Residents could see a significant rise in their insurance premiums, King said.

The property tax would cost the owner of an $80,000 house about $5.70 per month, he said, while the homeowner insurance premium increases could well exceed those rates.

Another issue the department would face if the levy doesn't pass would be limited availability of equipment and availability to perform emergency tasks.

The levy would make it possible to give a little money back to volunteers, pay for training, equipment recapitalization and many other things.

"We are significant stewards of the taxpayer's money," King said, citing that the department hadn't asked for money in 15 years.

Bethel Twp. trustee feel positive about putting the levy request before voters, Trustee President Nancy Brown said.

"Our biggest concern is that personnel costs have risen, and there are governmental agencies and private contractors who are paying more an hour than we are," she said. "We've tried to be upfront."

The trustees will vote at 7 p.m. today at the fire station, 3333 Lake Road in Medway.

The department recently purchased a new medic unit for $208,000. Prior to getting the new unit, the department had three ambulances, two of which were from 2004 and one from 2008. The department has had to replace the engine of the 2008 unit three times and are currently looking at a $11,000 cost to repair it again.

Firefighters have decided to leave the 2008 ambulance out of service until they can find the most economical way to replace it, King said.

The department also received payed off the mortgage on the first station.

"It feels wonderful," King said. "And we managed to save $220,000 in interest charges."

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