BY KATHLEEN HILLENMEYER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON -- Mason homeowners Monday got the first taste of how a split in their fire department could raise their taxes, as city council pondered placing a 5-mill levy on the Aug. 4 ballot.
If needed, the levy would generate $2 million annually to help pay for fire and emergency services, which the city might be forced to provide this fall if Deerfield Township pulls out of the Mason-Deerfield Joint Fire District.
Council took no action Monday on the resolution, which had its first reading to meet a May 21 filing deadline.
With talks between council and township trustees to save the fire department unraveling, Mason would need the levy if Deerfield breaks away from the joint district Sept. 30.
"If we get reconciled, that (levy) can be canceled or not collected," Mason Councilman Bill Kidder said Monday, still hopeful that Deerfield will rescind its Dec. 29 resolution to divide the district.
The 5-mill levy would boost taxes for the owner of a $125,000 home by $40.20. The new levy would replace 1995 and 1996 levies collected from Mason and Deerfield Township, which fund existing services for $3.1 million a year.
If the fire district splits, collection of the two levies -- which together amount to 3.95 mills -- would cease.
While $3.1 million pays for services to 35,000 township and city residents, $2 million is a fraction of what it would cost Mason to cover its 16,000 citizens, Mr. Kidder predicted.
With duplication of personnel, equipment and buildings, "we're looking at around $6 million for (starting up) the same service," he said.
City Manager Scot Lahrmer, however, said more analysis is needed to pinpoint costs. To evaluate Mason's needs, council approved an $11,105 contract Monday with T.G. Fire - EMS Services of Huber Heights, Ohio.
Wednesday, council voted to halt negotiations with Deerfield trustees until the township repeals its Dec. 29 resolution.
The 4-2 vote (with one abstention) put a chill on a deal outlining a non-adversarial relationship between the neighboring communities, based on compromises over annexation and other problems that strained their partnership.
City council agreed to return to the table after Deerfield lifted its threat of withdrawal. But since January, trustees have vowed not to rescind their vote until differences with Mason were resolved. Continued losses of township commercial land through annexations would erode Deerfield's ability to fund emergency services, they said.
"We will not risk our residents' safety by withdrawing that resolution," Trustee Larry Backus said. "On Mason's city council, there are those who no longer want to negotiate -- who believe the fire department is not as important as their right to annex aggressively." Despite citizens' questions about the impact on their safety, trustees have not unveiled plans for independent fire - life squad services, focusing instead on negotiations.
Though hoping to retain Fire Chief William Goldfeder, the township has begun advertising for a fire chief in trade journals. But trustees have neither hired consultants nor proposed a levy.
"We believe we can finance our fire department with the current taxes residents are paying," Mr. Backus said.
