BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
BATAVIA TOWNSHIP -- Voters in the North Batavia Fire District are being asked to approve a fire and emergency medical service levy for the first time in 11 years.
The 2.4-mill continuing levy on the Nov. 3 ballot would replace 1-mill and 1.4-mill continuing levies that have been on the books since 1985 and 1987, respectively. Both levies will expire if the new one passes.
"It's just to continue operations as is," Batavia Township Fire Chief John Bucher said. "We've had a 50 percent increase in runs since 1985."
The North Batavia district covers residents north of Clough Pike. The BMOP Fire Department, a district that also serves Monroe, Ohio and Pierce townships, serves residents south of Clough.
Batavia Township Clerk Ruth Ann Ashburn said the new levy would bring in $339,000 a year, compared with $256,000 under the current levies. She said taxes on a $100,000 home would increase from $19.31 a year to $36.75.
"It's still cheap for fire and rescue service," Mrs. Ashburn said.
Chief Bucher said the department is also spending more for medical supplies because hospitals are no longer allowed to provide them after a run.
"Since April, I'd say we've spent about $15,000," Chief Bucher said.
The department will also have to spend $174,000 by 2000 to make its radio system compatible with a new county dispatching system. Chief Bucher didn't think any money from the new levy would be needed.
"Hopefully not," he said. "We anticipated this last year; we started setting money aside in the capital improvement fund. We're already budgeting for that."
If the levy fails, Chief Bucher said trustees could put the levy on the May ballot.
