A year after missed deadline, Olander levy goes to voters

Two walkers make their way down the trail in Olander Park on Oct. 5. The parks system seeks a 0.8 mill property tex levy.

THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
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Voters will decide only one countywide issue — the renewal of an existing property tax — on this year’s ballot, while Sylvania-area voters will see a levy intended for a year ago.

The 0.8-mill property levy for Sylvania’s Olander Park System was left off last year’s ballot after park officials missed a deadline.

Two walkers make their way down the trail in Olander Park on Oct. 5. The parks system seeks a 0.8 mill property tex levy.

The tax, if approved, will provide $1,115,123 annually for five years, or about $100,000 more a year than the levy that expired at the end of 2016. The owner of a $100,000 home would have $28 added to their annual tax bill.

Without the levy income for 2017, parks officials slashed the budget to make ends meet. Cuts included laying off two full-time and two part-time employees and eliminating all but two seasonal workers.

Erika Buri, executive director, said programs and services that park users lost because of the cuts will be restored and improvements will be made if voters approve the ballot issue.

“We certainly will try to restore staff because they are imperative for operations. We needed upgrades at Olander Park that need to be in place. We are evaluating what those upgrades will be at this point,” she said.

● Metroparks Toledo has a request for renewal of a 10-year, 1.4-mill levy, which generates about $9.8 million annually, providing roughly half of the Lucas County park district’s operating budget.

The cost to the owner of a $100,00 home in property taxes is $42.25 a year.

Matt Cleland, Metroparks deputy director and treasurer, said the levy plays a key role in funding the park district.

“This is revenue that is not used for new park development or programs. This is revenue that allows clean, safe, and natural parks,” he said.

● Providence Township officials will ask residents to decide on a new 3-mill property tax to pay for construction and repair of roads and bridges. The issue would generate $231,306 annually for five years and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $105 a year.

A 2.3-mill tax renewal to continue providing money for fire protection services, including paying the salaries of volunteer firefighters, is on the ballot in Monclova Township. The five-year levy generates about $1 million annually. It costs the owner of a $100,000 home $67.90 a year.

Waterville voters will decide to implement amendments to the city charter in two issues.

One proposal would move the city’s primary date for elections from September to May and enact measures toward Waterville becoming a city in 2010.

The city voters also will decide to change the maximum term limits for councilmen from two to three terms.