Middleton Township: Voters asked to replace 2 levies on Nov. 2 ballot
10/6/2004Middleton Township voters will face two replacement levies on the Nov. 2 ballot.
A 0.5-mill, five-year levy for fire services equipment and expenses would reduce taxes for township residents. If it passes, the measure would replace a 1.0-mill levy.
"The residents have done well by us and now it's our opportunity to give them a break," said Jim Bostdorff, chairman of the township trustees.
"We went with the reduction because we received quite a large grant for our fire area."
The township recently received a $130,000 grant to pay for fire and emergency medical services equipment. The township must contribute $13,000 of the total, and the remaining $117,000 will be covered by state and federal money.
The 0.5-mill levy would generate about $43,905 annually for the township's fire and emergency services and would cost owners of a home valued at $100,000 about $17.50 annually, according to the Wood County auditor's office. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.
Owners of a home valued at $100,000 pay about $25.45 each year for fire and emergency medical services.
The township's fire department has stations in Dunbridge and Haskins. The department serves all of Middleton Township and has contracts to serve parts of Plain and Webster townships.
Another replacement levy on the November ballot would raise money for general township operations.
The 0.3-mill, five-year levy would collect about $26,343 annually for the township. The levy it would replace has the same millage, but it only raised $10,275 in the past year, according to the county auditor's office.
The new township operating levy would cost owners of a house valued at $100,000 about $10.50 each year. If the measure passes, township residents would see a tax increase of a few dollars. The owner of a house valued at $100,000 currently pays about $3.15 annually for township operations.