Sylvania Township supporters submit fire levy petition

8/6/2007

In an effort to get an operating levy for the Sylvania Township Fire Department on the fall ballot, Supporters For A Safe Sylvania is to present an initiative petition today to David Simko, township fiscal officer.

The grass-roots organization wants taxpayers to decide whether to approve a 1.5-mill levy to raise revenue for the fire department that serves township and city residents.

Volunteers collected more than 1,500 signatures of township residents. Carol Lindhuber, spokesman for the organization, said volunteers gathered well over the 1,154 valid signatures needed to get the issue on the ballot.

A separate petition signed by voters in the city of Sylvania was presented to the Sylvania council clerk in June, and council has agreed to submit the ballot issue to city electors in November.

Although the petition process is different in the township and the city, ballot language for both entities would be the same. The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $46 annually for five years, according to the committee.