RICHLAND COUNTY — Issues on the Richland County ballot on Nov. 3 include numerous levy renewals, new levies in Mifflin and Perry townships and the creation of a natural gas load aggregation program in Ontario.
Ontario voters will choose whether to permit city officials to create a citywide natural gas load aggregation program, giving residents access to natural gas utilities at a group rate.
“When you participate in an aggregation program, it gives you leverage for securing better pricing,” said Jeff Wilson, Ontario’s service safety director.
If it’s approved, the city can create an aggregation group, but residents will have the choice to opt-out of the program.
“If this passes, you don’t have to participate. That’s totally up to you,” Wilson said.
If the measure passes, the city will schedule public hearings, obtain certification from the Public Utilities Commission and work with suppliers to negotiate rates, terms and conditions.
The program would operate much like the current electric aggregation program, which Ontario residents voted in favor of in 2010 and renewed two years ago.
The City currently contracts with Buckeye Energy Brokers, who negotiated a rate of 4.99 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity for Ontario residents.
If the measure passes, Buckeye Energy will “shop around” and accept bids from various natural gas providers, then determine the best rate for Ontario.
As with the electric aggregation program, Ontario will seek an agreement that gives residents the chance to opt-out, or opt-in at a later date, for no additional cost. There will be no early termination fees and only customers not under contract will be automatically included.
Those already with a supplier can opt-in at the end of their term. Billing from Columbia Gas of Ohio will remain the same including budget billing.
Two new township levies are also up for a vote.
Mifflin Township residents will vote on an additional five-year, 2.7 mill operating levy.
John Jaholnycky, chair of the Mifflin Township board of trustees, said revenue generated by the levy would go toward the township’s general fund, so it could be used as needed for road maintenance and fire services.
“The last time we had a road levy was in 2014, prior to that we had a fire levy in 2005,” he said. “Things like asphalt, all those things have gone up so we’re just trying to keep up with everything right now.”
If passed, the levy will cost property owners 27 cents for every $100 of valuation of their property. According to Jaholnycky, that will end up being $94.50 for a $100,000 home.
Perry Township has a new five-year, 2.5 mill levy on the ballot. If passed, ] funds generated will go toward fire maintenance services for the township, which are contracted out to the Troy Township Fire Department.
The levy will replace an existing levy that expires this year.
“The current levy that’s been done is 20 plus years old. It generates $33,000 a year,” said Larry Weirich, vice chair of Perry Township trustees. “The current cost for us to contract with Troy Township is $53,362, so we have a huge deficit.”
According to Weirich, the new levy will cost residents 25 cents for each $100 in valuation of their property. It will generate approximately $62,000 per year.
The following levies are also up for renewal:
Residents of Galion City School District will vote on the renewal of a five- year, 7.73 mill current expenses levy.
Voters in the Village of Plymouth will vote on whether or not to renew two tax levies. One is a five-year, 6-mill levy to cover current expenses. The other is a five-year, 1-mill parks levy.
Madison Township residents will decide whether or not to renew a five-year, 4-mill levy for fire maintenance.
Residents of Mifflin Township who live within the Ashland City School District will vote on a five-year, 1.25-mill levy renewal for the school district’s permanent improvement fund.
Monroe Township voters also have the chance to vote on two levy renewals — a five-year, 2.5-mill levy for fire maintenance and a five-year, 1-mill levy for emergency medical service and supplies.
Plymouth Township residents who do not live in the City of Shelby or Village of Plymouth will be voting on the renewal of a five-year, 2-mill road maintenance and equipment levy.
Sandusky Township will vote on a five-year, 2.2-mill fire maintenance and emergency services levy renewal.
Sharon Township residents who do not live in the City of Shelby will vote on a five-year, 2-mill levy renewal for fire maintenance and emergency services. Sharon Township contracts with the Shelby Fire Department.
Springfield Township residents will vote on two levy renewals – a five-year, 0.5-mill levy and a five-year, 2-mill levy. Both levies are for fire maintenance.
Washington Township residents who do not live in another municipality will vote on the renewal of a five-year, 2-mill streets, roads and bridges levy.
Weller Township residents will vote on the renewal of a five-year, 3-mill levy for fire maintenance.
Worthington Township residents will vote on the renewal of a five-year, 2.5-mill levy for fire maintenance and emergency services.
