SHELBY – Tax renewals fared poorly across Richland County on Election Day, but not in Shelby.
Shelby voters approved renewal levies for both the city parks department and Shelby Department of Health.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support from our wonderful community, and I thank everyone for passing both our park and health levy renewals,” Shelby Financial Director Brian Crum said in a statement.
“I am very excited to see what we can provide to our citizens with those funds,” he added. “Thank you all for helping to make the City of Shelby better!”
Shelby is unique to Richland County in having its own Department of Health, and it’s something Crum is proud to maintain.
Leading up to the election, Crum cited accessibility as the main reason for support behind the city’s health department.
“We have, since the beginning of time, had our own health department,” Crum said.
“Our citizens would have to travel to the other side of the county to get that documentation,” he said. “I would imagine that because their resources would be more strained, there would be some issues with (speed of service) … but I don’t know that for sure.”
In the wake of the levies passing, Crum shared excitement for the city, and gratitude for the work of the parks department.
“That money goes so much to physical improvements, whether that be the flowers around town or the playground equipment, everything,” Crum said.
Crum said he can’t remember the last time Shelby had to request additional taxpayer funding for either department.
The health department levy will continue to cost taxpayers approximately $32 per $100,000 of appraised property value, whereas the parks levy will be roughly $18 per $100,000 of appraised property value.
Plymouth cemetery renewal faces different fate
The majority of tax issues on Richland County ballots failed. One of them was Plymouth’s proposed cemetery funding renewal.
The renewal would have continued to cost taxpayers roughly $35 per $100,000 of appraised property value. The levy funds the upkeep of Greenlawn Cemetery at the intersection of Bucyrus and Riggs streets, generating about $16,000 annually, according to Plymouth Financial Director DiAnn Jamerson.
“It pays for things like the mowing, repairing, replacing … It can help with fixing the mausoleum. It can help with the chapel out there,” Jamerson said before election night.
Plymouth Village Council will have the opportunity to put the levy back on the ballot two more times, if it deems fit.
After that, “We’d have to try to find some different funding sources to keep it maintained,” Jamerson said.
