Possible Sylvania Township fire levy talk postponed

12/30/2013
BLADE STAFF

Sylvania Township trustees say that the discussion of a possible fire levy to avoid a deficit in 2015 may be delayed until the newly elected trustee John Crandall is up to speed on township business.

Chairman John Jennewine said that he wanted to ensure Mr. Crandall, who beat out Kevin Haddad in the November elections, is thoroughly informed on the issue.

Originally, township administrator John Zeitler suggested it begin the process of forming a committee to help determine the size of the levy and steps for a public campaign in the first weeks of January.

Mr. Jennewine said if a levy is placed on the ballot in 2014, they are leaning toward November. Trustees are also awaiting two financial plans from Fire Chief Jeff Kowalski.

One plan will outline how new levy dollars would be used and a “Plan B” will show how the township fire department would operate on its current budget in case a levy is not passed.

During recent budget meetings, estimated budgets for the fire department, which services the city of Sylvania and Sylvania Township, showed a $300,000 deficit in 2015 and a $1.2 million deficit in 2016.