MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Voters in Miamisburg and Miami Township approved a new fire levy in their communities.
This fire levy will provide money for new equipment for a fire department that covers calls for service for sprawling complexes like the Dayton Mall and Austin Landing, plus stretches of I-75 and 675.
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The levy passed by 16 percentage points.
“The margin was surprising a little bit. I do want to thank the citizens. They’ve seen the need for the district and they came through and supported us,” said John Stalder, Miami Valley Fire District Board of Trustees President.
“We felt like if it was going to go one way, either it was going to fail by a close margin or it was going to pass by a close margin. And for it to be a 58-42 split, it all made us feel a lot better that the citizens had that much trust in us and we appreciate that,” said Miami Valley Fire District Chief Brandon Barnett.
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In this economic climate, the Chief Barnett says he knows this is no small investment for taxpayers.
The levy replaces all current fire-related tax levies in Miamisburg and Miami Township.
Property taxes will go up in both communities. It’ll cost the owner of a $100,000 home $385 dollars a year. In the township, that’s an extra $160 a year. In the city, it translates to an extra $304 annually.
It will give the department cash to replace aging fire engines and ambulances and to upgrade equipment.
They’ll also use the money to hire extra firefighters needed to re-open the station on Wood Road, which was closed in 2019 as a cost cut.
Chief Barnett told News Center 7 when it comes to Station 51 in the township, he hopes to have it staffed and re-opened within the first half of next year.
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