New permanent fire levy passes with 64% of vote

A majority of Prairie Township voters have agreed to permanently increase their property taxes to support their fire department.

It’s the agency’s first funding increase in about eight years.

With all precincts reporting, 64 percent (1,330 people) voted in favor of a new 3.61-mill levy, according to final, unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections on Tuesday night.

The issue will generate $1.1 million annually for the Prairie Township Fire Department. The new funds will help build a nest egg for long-term purchases, such as equipment and replacing aging vehicles. It also will pay for daily operations, including employee salaries, and ensure the department’s popular public-service events can continue.

The owner of a $100,000 home will pay $126 more in yearly property taxes to fund the levy, according to the Franklin County auditor’s office.

Prairie Township Fire Chief Chris Snyder thanked all the residents who voted.

“To those who cast their votes in support of us, we’re going to do everything we can to maintain their confidence in us, provide the best level of service, and continue to be good stewards of their tax dollars,” Snyder said.

“Our days really aren’t about us as firefighters, they’re about those we serve.”

About 17,000 people live in the township just west of Columbus.

The department employs 30 full-time officers and 32 parttime officers, and it responded to about 4,000 emergency calls and 2,200 fire calls in 2017.

Revenue that year totaled about $4.5 million, but the department spent about $4.7 million, and its cash reserve is dwindling, Snyder said.