2-23-2026 8:14pm

Townships of Franklin, Massie, Salem and Wayne Have Fire Levies On The May 5th Ballot

Beth Callahan Editor

Photo via Pexels.com

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- Four of the 11 townships that help make up Warren County have fire levies on the May ballot. They are...

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

According to Franklin Township Administrator Darryl Cordrey, only voters who live in the unincorporated area of the township will have this issue on their ballot. (This means voters who live in the township, but are in the taxing districts of the City of Franklin, Middletown and Carlisle, will not be asked to vote on this issue nor be taxed on this issue.)

The township is asking for a 1 mill levy for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027. The additional tax would be for the benefit of the Township of Franklin for the purpose of providing and maintaining:

Fire apparatus,
Mechanical resuscitators,
Underwater rescue and recovery equipment or
Other fire equipment and appliances,
Buildings and sites or
Sources of water supply and materials
For the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications,
For the payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under Section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code,
For the purchase of ambulance equipment,
For the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or
For the payment of other related costs

According to Warren County Auditor, if passed, the estimated levied money would collect $449,567 annually, at a rate not exceeding 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $35 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value.

MASSIE TOWNSHIP

All voting residents in Massie Township, including those in the Village of Harveysburg, will get to vote on the 1 mill fire renewal levy that will not exceed 1 mills for each $1 of taxable value. This amounts to $17.15 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value.

The renewal tax is for the benefit of Township of Massie for the purpose of providing and maintaining:

Fire apparatus,
Mechanical resuscitators,
Underwater rescue and recovery equipment, or
Other fire equipment and appliances,
Buildings and sites
Sources of water supply and materials
The establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications,
The payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under Section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code,
The purchase of ambulance equipment,
The provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or
The payment of other related costs. that the county auditor estimates will collect $36,821 annually, at a rate

If the renewed is passed by an affirmative vote, it will be for 5 years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.

SALEM TOWNSHIP

All voting residents in Massie Township, including those in the Village of Morrow, are being asked to cast their vote on an additional 3.9 mills for 5 years for the benefit of the Salem Township Fire protection, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.

The additional tax is being asked for the purpose of providing and maintaining:

Fire apparatus,
Mechanical resuscitators,
Underwater rescue and recovery equipment, or
Other fire equipment and appliances,
Buildings and sites or
Sources of water supply and materials
The establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications,
The payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under Section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code,
The purchase of ambulance equipment,
The provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or
For the payment of other related costs

If passed by an affirmative vote, the county auditor estimates the levy will collect $1,038,713 annually, at a rate not exceeding 3.9 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $137 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP

All voting residents in Wayne Township, including those in the Village of Waynesville and Corwin, will see a 5-year Fire Renewal Levy for 2.45 mills on their May 2026 Ballot. A renewal of a tax is being asked for the benefit and purpose of providing and maintaining:

fire apparatus,
mechanical resuscitators,
underwater rescue and recovery equipment, or
other fire equipment and appliances,
buildings and sites
sources of water supply and materials
the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications,
the payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under Section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code,
the purchase of ambulance equipment,
the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or
for the payment of other related costs

The county auditor estimates, the levy will collect $634,655 annually, at a rate not exceeding 2.45 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $45 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's market value. If passed, the 5 year renewal will commence in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.