MANSFIELD — Mansfield’s police and fire departments continue to enjoy the support of city voters.
Residents on Tuesday overwhelmingly renewed the four-year safety forces tax with 68 percent of voters approving. Final, unofficial vote totals from the Richland County Board of Elections were 2,254-1,048.
The half-percent income tax generates about one-third of the annual operating funds for Mansfield’s safety forces. The four-year safety levy, first approved in 2007, generates about $7 million each year, all of which goes to the city’s police and fire departments.
With Tuesday’s approval, the tax will continue for four more years, from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2023.
Mayor Tim Theaker and Safety-Service Director Lori Cope thanked voters for supporting the tax renewal.
“This will now allow our safety forces to continue on the path of serving our community in the best way possible,” Theaker said.
Cope said, “The renewal means we can can continue to serve our citizens in the manner they deserve and have come to expect from our police officers and firefighters. We sincerely thank them for their trust.”
In 2019, the city’s police and fire departments receive about $13.4 million from the general fund. The safety levy contributes about $7 million and the PRIDE levy, a 0.25 percent income tax approved in 2013, adds about $3.5 million. Fees charged for some fire runs contribute back to the fire budget an additional $1.6 million in cost recovery.
The PRIDE tax is different from the safety levy in that 50 percent of PRIDE funds go to police/fire and the rest is divided among parks and recreation, dilapidated building demolitions, and street lighting.
Theaker said the police department employs 82 sworn officers and 35 civilians. It’s budgeted for 83 for 2019 and the city is in the process of working to fill that position.
The fire department employs 90 sworn firefighters and three civilians. The 911 Communications Center is currently budgeted for 17 total, which includes a supervisor and an operations supervisor.
The tax had clear voter support on the May primary ballot in 2015, passing with 65 percent of the vote (1,254-675), according to the Richland County Board of Elections. In 2011, the same issue was renewed with 67 percent voter approval (3,700-1,802).
Other issues around Richland County on the May 7 primary ballot:
— The Village of Plymouth saw two requests for additional money defeated. A one-mill continuing levy for road maintenance was defeated, 26-10. A a 0.25-mill, five-year levy for current expenses went down, 28-8.
— Cass Township voters approved a renewal of a one-mill, five-year levy for cemetery operation and maintenance, 43-30.
— Jackson Township voters (excluding the City of Shelby) approved a 0.5-mill, additional, continuing levy on the ballot for fire maintenance, 70-38.
— Voters in Plymouth Township (excluding the City of Shelby and the Village of Plymouth) approved renewal of a 1.5-mill, five-year levy for fire maintenance, 22-2.
