MANSFIELD — Three Richland County townships are asking voters to renew existing property tax levies that fund local road repairs, resurfacing and/or equipment purchases.
On the Nov. 4 general election ballot, Washington, Plymouth and Perry townships each have renewal measures that would continue current funding levels for basic infrastructure needs.
Each proposal on the ballot is a renewal, not a new tax. A “yes” vote would continue existing millage rates; a “no” vote would allow the levies to expire, reducing the funding available for local road maintenance.
Washington Township
Voters in the unincorporated areas of Washington Township will decide on a 2-mill, five-year property tax renewal for the “general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges” within the Washington Township Road District.
The levy would commence in 2026, with first taxes due in 2027, according to the Richland County Board of Elections.
According to roads superintendent Andy Romoser, the township’s road levy has been renewed twice since first passing nearly a decade ago. He said funds are used strictly for roads and cannot be spent on vehicles, salaries or buildings.
“In the last almost-10-year period, every asphalt road has been asphalted once and every tar and chip road has been tarred and chipped twice,” Romoser said.
“Next term, I would like to go a little more in-depth with the tar and chip roads; I’d like to take some time and patch them very well so they stay for years to come.”
In the past decade, the levy has supported projects like curb replacements and driveway aprons for the Walnut Hills and Southern Estates allotments.
While no curbing was replaced this year, Romoser said the township focused on catch basin repairs and plans to cycle back through remaining allotments for new curbing over the next 10 years.
Plymouth Township
Plymouth Township — excluding the city of Shelby and the village of Plymouth — is asking voters to approve a 2-mill, five-year property tax renewal for “general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing or maintenance of roads, and/or the purchase and maintenance of equipment.”
If approved, the levy would begin in 2026 and first come due in 2027.
The township’s 24 miles of roadway are supported by this levy, according to roads superintendent Roger Baird. The funds also support the township’s tar and chip resurfacing program, which covers roughly five to six miles each year.
In addition, the levy pays for services like pothole repairs, snow and ice removal, and limited equipment replacement. Baird said the township operates efficiently by handling most maintenance in-house.
“We try to inspect the cross pipes every year,” he said. “They’re not a lot of money to replace, but as they rust out we have to have them replaced — which, if we can do it ourselves, we do.”
He described the township’s roads as being in strong condition.
“We’ve been able to keep up with our chip-and-seal program and the roads have really held up well,” Baird said. “We don’t have hardly any issues with potholes.”
With funds available, the township also replaces aging equipment on a rotating basis.
“We’re just beginning to look into replacing a dump truck — the newest one we have is about 12 years old,” he said, noting that’s roughly how often vehicles are cycled out.
Perry Township
Perry Township’s ballot includes a 1.8-mill, five-year property tax renewal, commencing in 2025 and first due in 2026.
The levy funds the “purchasing of road equipment and general road repair” throughout the township.
Trustee Matthew Mott said the levy is aimed at maintaining the township’s 26 miles of roadway, and ensuring equipment stays in working condition.
“It’s a renewal — it’s not an addition or anything like that,” Mott said. “Our road levy is expiring, and we want to renew it. It’s not going to increase taxes.”
Mott said the levy primarily funds preventive maintenance, such as filling potholes, sealing cracks, and applying chip-and-seal treatments to preserve road surfaces.
“It’s to keep things running the way they need to,” he said. “All our equipment has been replaced, but you never know when something’s going to break down and we have to repair or replace a dump truck.”
He added that the township recently completed its largest project in years — a culvert replacement on Mock Road, which cost about $300,000, with the township covering half and the rest funded through a grant.
“For us being a small township, our funds are very limited,” Mott said. “Through the road levy is usually where we make sure our roads are plowed properly, salted, all roads are mowed, and equipment is running tip-top shape.”