Coventry replacement fire levy on May ballot
By Mike D’Agruma
COVENTRY — On May 8, Coventry voters will see Issue No. 1, a five-year, 2.25-mill replacement operating fire levy that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $16.84 a year in property tax.
According to the Summit County Fiscal Office, the current levy costs the owner of a $100,000 home about $52 annually. The levy, which was replaced by voters in 2002, is projected to collect about $474,223 this year. If passed, the replacement levy would bring in an additional $122,399, according to Coventry Fiscal Officer Joni Murgatroyd.
The replacement levy before voters
is one of two operating levies for the fire department
and provides additional
support for salaries, benefits, vehicle and equipment
repairs, training, building maintenance, repairs and
operating costs, fire and EMS operating supplies
and gear and smaller capital equipment
replacement. It is used in conjunction with collections
from the five-year, 4.65-mill levy, which runs through
2010.
At a Feb. 6 special meeting,
Trustee Bob Wilson said the replacement is needed to keep
pace with increasing costs and that the fire department
would face a projected deficit in 2008
without it. According to Murgatroyd,
the department is projecting an operating budget of about
$2.06 million in 2007.
Murgatroyd added that costs to residents
are offset wherever possible
by seeking grant funding for training and capital purchases,
by resident and nonresident ambulance billing collection
and general fund monies.
Resident ambulance collections do
not result in any out-of-pocket costs to residents, Murgatroyd
said. Fees are collected through a resident’s insurer
or waived if someone does not have insurance coverage.
Polls will be open May 8 from 6:30
a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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