Beavercreek City Council votes to place police levy on May ballot | City of Beavercreek Ohio - Municipal Government
Beavercreek City Council votes to place police levy on May ballot | City of Beavercreek Ohio - Municipal Government
Members of Beavercreek City Council voted to place a police levy on the May 2023 ballot during their regularly scheduled council meeting on Monday, January 23.
Council passed Resolution 23-7 for residents to vote on a 1.8-mills police levy. Funds generated by this levy will be used to maintain and increase the Beavercreek Police Department’s service levels, including the hiring of five additional police officers, as well as maintaining and purchasing equipment. Funds will not be used to build a new building for the police department.
“While the ballot language allows the city to use levy funds to maintain its current police department building, funds generated from this levy do not include funding for a new facility,” said City Manager, Pete Landrum. “The need for a new police department building remains, but right now, the city is focused on obtaining the proper funds to maintain and increase the department’s service levels.”
If approved by voters, this levy would raise property taxes beginning in 2024 by $63 per $100,000 of appraised property value.
“The levy will provide the funds necessary to increase our police force and provide our officers with the equipment necessary for them to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Mayor Bob Stone.
The Beavercreek Police Department is primarily funded by property taxes, which represents about 92% of the department’s budget. Approximately $8.98 million or 75% of the police department’s budget is used for personnel costs, while the remainder of the budget includes funds for capital and equipment necessary to support the operations of the police department.
Staffing levels for the Beavercreek Police Department have increased by four officers over the past 27 years while the community continued to grow. Currently, the Beavercreek Police Department is authorized to have 50 police officers to protect and serve a city of nearly 47,000 residents. Depending on the shift, there are typically four to six officers on duty at one time.
“Our city has experienced significant growth over the last few decades, but the size of our police force has remained the same,” said Beavercreek Police Chief Jeff Fiorita. “The levy will provide the funds necessary to hire additional officers to protect and serve the community.”
The last time Beavercreek voters passed additional funding for the police department was in 2014. Additional information can be found on the city's website by clicking here.
Original source can be found here.
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