Category: Levies

The Leroy Township Board of Trustees in regular session on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. at the Leroy Township Community Center.

Present were: Chairman and Trustee, Rich VanPelt, Trustee, Heather Shelton and Trustee, Jason Rodgers.

Rich VanPelt presented the following resolution and moved for its adoption.

Resolution 25-23 determining to submit to the electors of Leroy Township the question of the additional 5.5 mill fire levy pursuant to Sections 5705.19(I), 5705.191, and 505.39 of the Revised Code.

Whereas, the additional tax levy will occur in calendar year 2025, with the collection of the additional tax for five years beginning in 2026, is necessary for the proper operation of the Township Fire Department.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Leroy Township Trustees, Lake County, Ohio, that:

Section 1. This Board finds, determines and declares that the revenue that will be raised by all tax levies that this Board is authorized to impose, when combined with state and federal revenues available to this Board will be insufficient to provide for the requirements of this Township, and that it is therefore necessary to levy an additional tax in excess of the ten-mill limitation in order to raise an amount each calendar year for a period of five years beginning in calendar year 2025, first being collected in 2026. The rate of the tax shall not exceed 5.5 mills, which amounts to ($193.00) for each ($100,000) of the county auditor’s appraised value.

Section 2. Pursuant to Sections 5705.19(I), 5705.191, and 505.39 of the Revised Code, there shall be submitted to the electors of this Township at an election to be held on November 4, 2025, the question of an additional 5.5 mills tax levy in excess of the ten-mill limitation for a period of five years (commencing with the tax duplicate for the year 2025 to be first collected in the year 2026) to be levied on Leroy Township located in Lake County, Ohio, in order to raise the funds necessary each year for a period of five years, for the purpose of providing funds to maintain the Leroy Township Fire Department in providing protection against fires, in providing fire and rescue services; in providing and maintaining fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment, other fire equipment and appliances, buildings and sites therefor, and sources of water supply and materials therefor; in establishing and maintaining lines of fire-alarm communications; to pay permanent, part-time, volunteer fire-fighting companies, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate such equipment, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code; for the purchasing of ambulance equipment; for the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company; and for the payment of other related costs, at the annual tax rate necessary to raise that amount.

Section 3. The form of said ballot shall be:

(A Majority Affirmative Vote is Necessary for Passage)

“An additional tax for the benefit of Leroy Township for the purpose of providing funds to maintain the Leroy Township Fire Department in providing protection against fires, in providing fire and rescue services; in providing and maintaining fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment, other fire equipment and appliances, buildings and sites therefor, and sources of water supply and materials therefor; in establishing and maintaining lines of fire-alarm communications; to pay permanent, part-time, volunteer fire-fighting companies, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate such equipment, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code; for the purchasing of ambulance equipment; for the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company; and for the payment of other related costs, at the annual tax rate of 5.5 mills, which amounts to ($193.00) for each ($100,000) of the county auditor’s appraised value, for a term or period of five years, commencing with the tax year 2025, first collectible in 2026.”

Section 4. A certified copy of this resolution be filed with the Board of Elections of Lake County, Ohio, prior to 4:00 P.M. on August 6, 2025, in order that said Board may prepare the proper ballot for the vote thereof.

Richard VanPelt seconded the motion to adopt said resolution, and the roll being called upon for its adoption, the vote resulted as follows: Shelton, aye, VanPelt, aye.

Fiscal Officer, Alexandra C. Brown.

I hereby certify that pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5705.191, and 505.329 and related sections of the Ohio Revised Code, Alexandra C. Brown, Fiscal Officer of the Board of Township Trustees of Leroy Township, Lake County, Ohio, hereby certifies that the above and foregoing is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by said Board of Trustees of Leroy Township, Lake County, Ohio at the meeting on June 10, 2025.

Source Facebook

Leroy Township Fire Department – Levy Information Update

Good morning,

Last week, we shared that the Leroy Township Fire Department will be placing a 5.5-mill levy on the November 2025 ballot. We’d now like to provide more details to help everyone better understand what this means for our community.

What Is This Levy?

The proposed 5.5-mill levy will replace the current 4.5-mill levy, which will be cancelled if the new levy passes. This is effectively a 1-mill increase.

Why Is It Needed?

Our department is funded solely through levies. The township does not have other means to support fire and EMS services. Without levy funding, we cannot operate or respond to emergencies.

As time goes on, levy values depreciate while the cost of operations rises—equipment, staffing, training, and fuel all cost significantly more today than they did even a few years ago. While we do our best to manage the budget responsibly, the reality is that expenses continue to increase unexpectedly.

This levy is designed to sustain us for many years without needing another increase.

Department Snapshot:

• 25 total members

o 4 full-time (career) personnel

o 3-person daily duty crew, with 2-person minimum staffing

o 1 full-time administrative assistant (also supports township duties)

• At least 1 career firefighter on duty every day

• Respond to all fire and EMS calls in Leroy Township

Why Not Last Year?

Last year’s levy was a renewal only—it continued the same funding and did not provide any additional dollars. This new levy is necessary to meet current and future demands.

Cost to Residents:

Levy Cost Per $100,000 of Assessed Value* Example: $300,000 Home (Assessed at 35%)

4.5 mills $97.00/year $101.85/year

5.5 mills $193.00/year $202.65/year

*Assessed value = 35% of appraised value (not market value)

We are committed to transparency and community involvement. Two public meetings will be held to discuss the levy and answer your questions—dates will be announced soon.

If you’d like to talk or tour the department, please call (440) 254-4124 to schedule a time. We’d be happy to speak with you personally.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Chief Toman

Source Facebook

For people that missed the information meetings on the fire department levy on the ballot this November, here is the handout shared at those meetings.

Source Facebook

Leroy Township will present voters with a five-year, 5.5-mill additional levy for fire and emergency medical services during the Nov. 4 general election.

The Lake County Auditor’s Office said that if approved, the levy would generate $1,011,705 per year and cost property owners $193 per $100,000 in appraised property valuation.

The Lake County Elections Board added that the levy would start in 2025 and first be due in 2026.

Township Fire Chief Mike Toman said that the department is facing cost increases that providers are attributing to the pandemic and tariffs.

“Everything’s just gone up in price over the last four years, and it’s making it hard to forecast our budget and keep up,” Toman said.

The department’s current equipment levy can no longer cover the costs of fire trucks and it will need to start using money from other areas of its budget to replace vehicles, he said. Vehicles that used to cost the department around $300,000 are now up to $1 million, while an ambulance that cost the department $186,000 now costs $348,000.

Even if the department gets a grant it is seeking to fund the replacement of a tanker with a failing engine, Toman said the department would possibly need to cover about $300,000.

If the levy is approved, he said it would fund the department’s day-to-day operations, including bills and payroll. The department would maintain its level of service and staffing, and it would also try to keep making improvements.

If the levy does not pass, Toman said the department would possibly need to consider staffing cuts.

“That would be the biggest cut, the biggest detriment, because we only have a duty crew of three,” he said. “If we have to go back down to two – it makes it hard working anything with two people, whether it’s an EMS call or fire.”

The department hopes that it will not need to ask for any other new levies in the next 10 years, though Toman added he cannot guarantee that because of difficulties forecasting the budget.

He said that anyone with questions can reach out to the fire department. Its phone number is 440-254-4124.

“We appreciate the support of the community that we’ve always had, and we hope to get their continued support,” he said

Info source News-Herald