Voters in Green Township and two growing western Hamilton County villages can thank their new neighbors for declining or static levies on the Nov. 6 ballot.

        In Cleves, voters will consider a 2.25-mill, five-year replacement levy for current operating expenses and a 0.99-mill, five-year fire re placement levy, both of which are decreasing.

        Current services would remain intact and save the owner of a $100,000 home about $70 per year, said village clerk/treasurer Linda Bolten. Should both pass, she said, overall taxes in the village will have dropped from 23.71 mills in 1998 to about 13.66 mills.

        “We've got a couple of new subdivisions with homes in the $200,000 to $250,000 range that have been bringing in additional revenue ,” she said.

        Tax revenue from those subdivisions — Aston View and Coleman Woods — have also allowed the general fund to subsidize costs for streets and parks that were funded by special levies, she said.

        Growth in neighboring North Bend is also helping shore up the tax base.

        The only levy on the ballot in North Bend is a 5-mill, five-year renewal levy for current operating expenses. The levy generates about $83,269 annually toward the general fund and costs the owner of a $100,000 home about $175 per year, said Ken Albu, a village councilman.

        About 80 new residences in the newer Aston Oaks subdivision, he said, have reduced the actual tax rate. Contracting with Miami Township and Hamilton County for emergency services places less strain on the only other levy the village has in place: a 1-mill fire levy. The village has dropped a total of 7.29 mills in levies since 1996, he said.

        Keeping competitive in grants programs and tax-increment financing are the reasons Green Township officials are asking for the renewal of a .05-mill, five-year roads-and-bridges decreased levy, said Fred Schlimm, superintendent of roads.

        If approved, it would generate about $408,656, compared with about $817,312 it generated as a 1-mill levy, Mr. Schlimm said.

        “We do need to keep it to stay competitive for state capital-improvement grants, which can fund up to 90 percent of a project. By demonstrating that we have a levy and the license-plate fee, we receive the maximum amount of points awarded when those grants are considered,” he said.

        Green Township also has a 0.5-mill, five-year police and emergency services renewal levy on the ballot.

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