Columbia Township seeking increase to levy for EMS, fire

The Columbia Township Fire Department is seeking passage of a replacement levy with an increase on this year’s primary ballot.

The five-year, 1.06-mill replacement levy — an increase of .06 mills — will be up for approval on the March 17 ballot.

Fire Chief Ray Anthony said the increase is to help pay part-time EMS responders and firefighters, as well as cover increases in material, equipment and fuel costs.

“We did a very minimal increase,” Anthony said. “We try to be real cautious of our spending, and we still have to operate and keep the doors open.”

Part-time responders make up the entirety of the department’s staff, he said.

“We’re not full time here, and part of that levy is to help pay our part-timers,” Anthony said.

The levy previously cost taxpayers $30.97 per $100,000 in property valuation a year, according to the Lorain County Auditor’s Office.

The increase would have taxpayers paying an additional $6.13 per $100,000 in property valuation.

Anthony said the increase will bring in around $45,000 in additional revenue for the Fire Department to help with day-to-day operations.

In total, the levy is projected to bring in $271,150 a year, according to the Auditor’s Office.

The Fire Department depends on two operational levies to fund its services, both five-year levies and offset by two years.

Anthony said since his department has the community’s back, it’s important that they also have the Fire Department’s back financially.

“We give a great service and a minimal cost,” he said. “If they (residents) still want quality of service, we need the levy for manpower and equipment to do our job.”