BEAVERCREEK — For the second time in six months, the City of Beavercreek is asking voters for money to support a police levy.
A similar levy failed in November; however, this one will focus on staffing instead of a new police station.
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News Center 7′s John Bedell talked with the city and voters to get their take on this.
In November, the City of Beavercreek asked their voters for money that would have bankrolled building a new police station. That’s now off the table as a part of this new police levy that, compared to last fall’s version, would be less expensive for homeowners if it passes.
“The primary difference, and really the only significant difference, is the fact that we do not have funds in this levy to build a new station. This is strictly for operations, current operations, maintaining the current building, and adding five new officers,” Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone said when as to what the difference is between this levy from last one.
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After 53 percent of the voters said no in November, the City of Beavercreek hopes for a different outcome at the May 2 primary.
“I think it’s important to protect our citizens,” said Shanda Boyer
Boyer, a voter, says she understands concerns from other voters about passage meaning high property taxes in the city.
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If this new police levy passes, it would cost the owner of a $100,000 home in Beavercreek an extra $63.00 a year in property taxes starting in 2024.
“I completely understand. I’m a citizen that lives paycheck to paycheck and I still think it’s important to put back into our community and to our employees and to the people that protect us,” Boyer said.
“Safety in your community is the number one responsibility that our city has. There’s just no doubt about that and so it has to remain strong,” Stone said.
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The Mayor understands that some voters do not want to pay extra money on their property tax bill.
“We need to maintain our police department is one where law enforcement professionals want to come and work. So that requires that you pay a good salary, that requires that you have good benefits, that requires that you have a staff that’s large enough to accommodate the needs of the city,” Stone said.
News Center 7 will be in Green County on election night and let you know what happens with this levy.
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