October 27, 2005

EDITORIAL

Support levies for library, MTFR

Two levies appearing on the Nov. 8 ballot will provide vital and much-needed funding for two crucial institutions in this community: the Greene County public library system and Miami Township Fire-Rescue. The levies would help both institutions continue to offer essential services to this community and to make needed improvements. Both levies deserve voters1 support.

Issue 6 is the Greene County Library system1s 1-mill levy. The five-year levy would generate $2.9 million for the library system, which has branches in Yellow Springs, Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Cedarville, Fairborn, Jamestown and Xenia. The levy would go into effect next year. The cost to the owner of a home appraised at $100,000 would be $30.63 a year.

The library system1s existing levy has a millage of 0.35, and costs $10.72 in taxes for the owner of a home appraised at $100,000. The library system1s levy was last approved in 1995 and expires at the end of the year.

Funds from the levy would be used to purchase new material, including books, magazines, CDs and DVDs; to provide more programs for children, teens and adults; and to upgrade computers and online services. An increase in funding from the levy would also allow the library system to restore between 6 to 12 hours at each of its branches. The branches1 hours of operation were cut in 2003 after funding from the state declined. Restoring some of the hours of operation that were cut should motivate most library patrons to support the levy.

The library system is seeking additional funds from the property tax levy to offset the continued decrease in state funding for libraries around the state. Because the state is not providing the necessary funds for Greene County1s libraries to serve their patrons, the library system is turning to taxpayers.

In a community that prides itself on its support for education, casting a vote for the library levy should be an easy decision.

Issue 17, Miami Township1s fire levy renewal, would provide operating funds for the fire department, which receives all of its funding from property taxes. The department does not want to charge for fire and emergency medical services because Township officials believe these services are basic community needs and should be available to all members of the Yellow Springs and Miami Township community. If the levy failed, the Township would have to use money from the general fund, which pays for the government1s other operations, to operate MTFR.

The 3.8-mill fire levy would generate $348,000 a year over the next five years. The cost to the owner of a home appraised at $100,000 would be $94.28, the same amount that homeowner now pays under the existing fire levy, which is also 3.8 mills.

The fire levy would pay for the operating costs of MTFR, including personnel expenses, fuel, equipment, training and maintenance. The levy would also provide some funds for the implementation of the fire department1s 10-year strategic plan, which includes increasing volunteer-recruitment efforts, improving services provided by MTFR and upgrading and replacing vehicles and apparatus.

Complicating the fire department1s levy campaign is a clerical error that placed the wrong type of levy on the November ballot. The Township had intended to seek a 3.8-mill replacement levy, but the Township instead filed the levy as a renewal with the Greene County Board of Elections. This means the fire levy on the fall ballot will not generate the additional funds MTFR needs to fully implement the strategic plan. Next spring, the Township will seek voter approval of a second levy.

Passage of the fire levies on Nov. 8 and next spring is critical. The levies would provide the fire department the funding it needs to continue to provide excellent service and to implement important changes at MTFR. Issue 17 helps one of the community1s most important assets, the fire department, remain healthy so its staff and volunteers can care for community members1 health and safety.

Robert Mihalek