Levy for St. Paris Police department fails

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On Tuesday, voters rejected a levy intended to support the St. Paris Police Department.

According to unofficial results, the St. Paris police levy failed 428 votes to 347 votes.

The five-year, 4.90-mill additional levy was expected to help in the hiring of an additional full-time officer, additional training, updated equipment and consistent 24/7 local police coverage.

The levy was expected to raise an estimated $114,000 in revenue annually.

During a public question and answer meeting the village held on the levy in October, Mayor Joe Reneer stated the village’s police department has one full-time officer and seven part-time officers and the village wanted to provide consistent 24/7 coverage.

During the same meeting, he stated the police department’s total budget this year was $281,420.85 and the village will spend $209,547 on police employees this year.

Within the $281,420.85 budget, Reneer said there is a $17,382 grant the village received to update communication equipment leaving $54,491.85 for other expenses including vehicles, vehicle maintenance, gas, uniforms, ammunition and training.

On Wednesday, Reneer said the election results on the levy are disappointing and that the village has to reevaluate its options.

“I was hoping that it would pass,” Reneer stated. “From here myself and council is going to have to sit down with the numbers and look at what our options are. There isn’t a set in stone next step as of right now.”

By Nick Walton

[email protected]

Nick Walton can be reached at 937-652-1331 or on Twitter @UDCWalton.

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