MADISON TOWNSHIP — Voters on Tuesday once again rejected a proposed fire levy replacement for Madison Township, a decision that could impact emergency services moving forward.
The measure failed by a vote of 348 against to 304 in favor, according to unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections. It marks the second defeat for the levy, which also failed in November 2024.
The proposal would have replaced a continuous levy first passed in 2000 and collecting revenue based on 1999 home values. Annual revenue for the fire department would have increased by approximately $380,000.
Fire Chief Ken Justus said ahead of the vote that the funds were needed to maintain services and cover rising costs.
“The costs associated with running a fire department have increased dramatically over the past 25 years,” he previously told Richland Source. “We put this off as long as we could. The funds will help maintain our current services and try to grow with the community.”
The existing levy generates about $680,000 annually and covers roughly 30 percent of the department’s operating expenses. The replacement would have raised the cost for homeowners from $111 to $193 per $100,000 of assessed property value, with new rates beginning in 2026.
The department employs 15 full-time and 12 part-time firefighters, along with three captains, an administrative assistant, and the chief. Justus said the department has already cut staffing and has not raised part-time wages in two years due to budget constraints.
“The fire department is still financially challenged,” township trustee Dan Fletcher previously said, after trustees approved the 2025 budget.
“We’re staying above water for now, but it won’t fare well if this levy doesn’t pass.”
Mifflin renewal passes
In nearby Mifflin Township, voters approved the renewal of a five-year, 2.7-mill general fund levy by a margin of 241 to 169, according to unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections.
The renewal does not include a tax increase and will continue generating between $250,000 and $300,000 annually for road and fire services. The cost to homeowners remains at about $94.50 per $100,000 of assessed value.
Mifflin Township Trustee Chair John Jaholnycky said the funding is critical as costs for labor and materials have increased.
“Everything has gone up significantly — things have quadrupled in price in not that long of a time,” he said. “We’ve lost a lot of fire and EMS people to Ashland and Wooster, so we’re trying to keep up with that as best we can.”
The five-year levy will begin collection in 2026 and go through 2030.