City Projects Shortfall in 2012 Budget, Plans to Push for Fire & EMS Levies

Residents could pay more for if they approve fire and EMS replacement levies on the March 2012 ballot.

City officials projected a shortfall of about $225,000 for fire and emergency medical services when looking toward the 2012 budget, prompting them to push for replacements for levies that were initially passed in 1982 and 1983.

“Otherwise we’re going to have to start making some cuts in personnel or some type of project to balance the ’12 budget,” Council President Jon Snyder said at Monday night's North Canton City Council meeting.

The city would ask voters to pass a 1-mill continuing replacement levy for EMS, generating about $378,000 a year, and a 0.5-mill continuing replacement levy for fire services, generating about $189,000 a year. Both would be the same millage as the levies passed in the ’80s, but the new levies would bring in money based on current property values.

“In doing so, it would yield approximately — without knowing present values — about $285-$290,000 of new money, which would balance EMS once again,” Snyder said.

“It would probably cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $20 more a year.”

The city would be forced to pull from the general fund to make up for shortfalls in fire and EMS if the levies did not go through, he said.

Residents also fund a 1.5-mill two-year levy, passed in May 2010, which pays for EMS and generates $565,000 a year. That levy expires at the end of 2012.

“I’ve always been a big proponent of some type of safety services levy,” Councilman Pat DeOrio said. “The people in this town will support police, fire and EMS.”

Council will submit estimates regarding the levy to the State Auditor’s Office and meet the filing deadline of Dec. 7.