MOUNT HEALTHY — The city is seeking a replacement general operating levy that will help the city keep up with the rising costs of doing business, say city officials.

        City council voted to put the five-year, 1.54-mill general operating levy on the May 8 ballot. It replaces a 1.54-mill operating levy that was not based on current property valuations.

        The replacement levy would generate about $65,000 a year. The current levy generates about $50,000.

        “We're doing a replacement versus a renewal so we can get the new valuations,” said Tim McInerney, the city's safety-service director.

        The replacement levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home close to $54 a year, according to city calculations.

        The general operating levy helps pay for city services such as police, fire, emergency medical services and recreation.

        “Hopefully, the people who vote are concerned citizens who worry about the rising costs of local government,” Mr. McInerney said. “We just want to be able to keep up with those costs, from fuel to health insurance.”

        Don Crank, president of council, agrees.

        “We definitely need it,” Mr. Crank said. "'It keeps all of the departments efficiently running and the city at top speed.”

        The city has had success in the past two years with levies. In March 2000 the city conducted a successful campaign to approve a first-time street levy — five years, 1.5 mills — that generates about $102,000 a year.

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