Sylvania trustees reinstate part of levy tax collection

10/18/2011

A divided Sylvania Township board of trustees voted Tuesday evening to reinstate half of a police levy for collection during 2012 after having suspended the tax’s collection entirely this year.

Collecting 0.75 mill of the 1.5-mill tax that township voters approved back in 1984 will generate about $330,000 in annual revenue and cost property owners about $12.50 for each $100,000 in assessed value.

Trustees Neal Mahoney and John Jennewine supported the rollback, while Kevin Haddad opposed it.

Mr. Haddad argued that reinstating the full amount would put the township on a better financial footing in light of state funding cuts.

“We need that money for training [and] for some improvements to the building,” he said, estimating that the resulting tax increase would equate to little more than “lunch with friends” for most taxpayers.

But Mr. Mahoney, who is running for election for the first time this fall after having been appointed to the board early this year, said the full amount was not needed and he couldn’t justify asking for the money as a hedge against future financial problems.

“People are taxed out, including myself,” he said. “We’ve got too many taxes being put on.”

“If we can give them [taxpayers] a small break, every bit is appreciated,” Mr. Jennewine agreed, after noting that new school and storm-drainage taxes will take effect in the township next year.