MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Township voters have rejected two proposed property tax levies and a natural gas aggregation.

According to final unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections, voters rejected a 2.5-mill fire levy, a 4-mill road levy and a natural gas aggregation resolution.

“I can’t speak for the board, but it would be my vote to run them again in May,” Trustee Dan Fletcher said.

Additional 2.5-mill fire levy fails

According to final unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections, 2,055 votes were against the levy and 1,588 were for the levy.

Fletcher said the department would continue providing fire and emergency medical response while trustees, the fiscal officer and the fire department discuss current and future operations.

“We have an amazing group of Firefighters/Paramedics and they will always figure out a way to accomplish tasks, no matter what the circumstances,” Fletcher said. “We will always provide the best patient care and fire/emergency response.”

According to township officials, the levy would have generated about $542,715 annually.

The 2.5-mill additional property tax levy would have covered fire and ambulance equipment, emergency medical services, firefighting and emergency medical personnel and other related costs, for five years.

The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $88 per year, or $7.33 per month.

A 4-mill levy was renewed in November 2025 that originally passed in 2005. Fletcher said the levy now brings in about 2.5 mills and did not increase funding when voters renewed it.

“Unfortunately, just like in your household, all expenses are increasing,” Fletcher said.

4-mill road levy rejected by voters

According to final unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections, 2,202 votes were against the levy and 1,419 were for the levy.

The proposed 4-mill property tax road levy would have generated about $868,345 each year and run for five years. The levy would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $140 annually, or $11.67 per month.

According to township officials the money would have funded construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repairs to streets, roads and bridges.

Fletcher previously said the funding would allow the township to repave approximately seven miles of roads and establish a plan to resurface all 70 miles of township roads over a 10-year period.

He said they prioritize roads based on traffic and road-surface condition. The township currently paves about three miles of road each year, which would take about 23 years to cover every mile of township road.

Natural gas aggregation fails

Madison Township voters also decided whether to authorize the township to aggregate retail natural gas loads within the township.

According to final unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections, 1,897 votes were no and 1,616 were yes.

Fletcher previously noted the aggregation is not a levy and does not raise anyone’s taxes.

The resolution would have allowed township trustees to enter into service agreements for the sale and purchase of natural gas on behalf of eligible residents.

Under the proposed program, the township could group residential and small-business customers and negotiate a gas-supply price on their behalf.

“The local gas utility would still own the lines, deliver the gas, read the meter, send the bill and answer any leak or emergency call,” Fletcher said. “None of that changes.”

The aggregation would occur automatically unless residents elected to opt out.

For residents who choose to opt out, they can do so at no charge. Eligible households receive a letter explaining the process before the program begins, according to Fletcher. 

Ohio’s Energy Choice website says customers usually have 14 to 21 days to respond to an opt-out notice.

Ohio law would also require at least two public hearings on the aggregation plan before the program could take effect.

The aggregation would not guarantee residents a lower rate, according to Fletcher. 

“Nobody can predict the gas market,” he said. “What aggregation offers is a known price for a known period of time.”

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