Safety levy passes by large margin

CHILLICOTHE – A roar of excitement erupted Tuesday in the crowd of firefighters and police officers gathered at the Bridge Street Buffalo Wild Wings as news of the safety services levy passing was announced.

According to the Ross County Board of Elections, the levy passed within the city's 22 precincts with a vote of 1,755 in favor and 923 against.

"It's great," Police Chief Keith Washburn said. "I'm glad the people backed us on this. It was definitely needed."

The levy will bring $1.4 million a year to safety services, with $350,000 designated for dispatch operations. The rest of the money will be spent on additional personnel for both the police and fire departments.

A resident making $30,000 per year will pay an additional $1.15 each week to support the funding for the levy. No funds will be used to increase departmental salaries.

The money collected will add an additional five to seven jobs to both departments, and the East Main Street and University Drive fire stations will be reopened after being closed twice in a five-year span.

Washburn said he and Fire Chief Jeffrey Creed will meet with Mayor Everson next week to begin the process of hiring additional staff.

Since new employees will have to be selected and take the city's civil service test, the process could take until January, Creed said.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us over the next year," Washburn said.

After putting the levy on the ballot for the third time, Creed said seeing it passing shows community support.

"It kind of justifies what you do every day," Creed said.

The permanent levy, according to Chillicothe Fire Chief Jeffrey Creed, is the first safety levy in 30 years to improve the effectiveness of emergency response. The 0.2 percentage point income tax increase could cut down response times and need for mutual aid with additional staffing.

As residents left the polls Tuesday, more comments to approve the levy were heard than to not.

"It is a big city and we need more of the fire department and more of police," Lisa Charney said as she left the polling station at Ohio University-Chillicothe.

"Our roads need to be improved, and I want the city to be safe," Jessica Crawford, said.

Voters on Twitter also seemed to support the levy throughout the day.