LIBERTY TWP — Officials from this fast-expanding Butler County community moved a step closer to putting a replacement fire levy on the November ballot.

        The Liberty Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved Monday evening a resolution forwarding a request to the Butler County Auditor's office to calculate the specific costs of a proposed five-year, 3-mill fire levy. It would replace a property tax increase of the same amount approved by voters in 1997.

        Liberty Township's population has boomed from 1990 to 2000, with a 147 percent increase in residents, to about 25,000.

        Service calls are increasing annually by about 25 percent. In 2001 firefighters and emergency medical crews made 1,662 runs, compared to 1,447 in 2000.

        “With the increasing residential population, Liberty is having to put more stress on its fire services,” said Liberty Township Administrator Nell Kilpatrick. “There is an increased need for additional fire personnel and a new fire station.”

        The new station, which is estimated to cost from $1.5 million to $1.7 million, would be the township's third. It would lie just south of the intersection of Ohio 747 and Princeton Road, north of Butler County Regional Highway.

        Trustees also unanimously approved an initial step in creating new, 30-year tax increment financing (TIF) for the property, Ms. Kilpatrick said.

        Tax increment financing is a development tool that uses the revenue from increases in property-tax valuations to help pay for a project.

        She said negotiations with Lakota schools on the formation of the TIF continue and that a final vote creating the TIF, which is estimated would generate $2 million during 30 years, is expected soon.

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