By Megan Alley
Sun staff
The Bethel Village Council voted unanimously last week to let voters decide on an 8 mill continuous police levy that would provide about $240,000 each year to the understaffed department.
The council voted no on a proposed one percent income tax earlier this month.
Voters will have their say in a special election on August 4. If they approve the levy, the police department will still require $200,000 from the general fund to meet its $440,000 budget.
A property with a market value of $100,000 would pay $178.50 more per year in taxes under the new levy.
The Bethel police department was hit hard with staffing cuts when the village was placed on fiscal emergency in 2008. The department has gone from having seven full time officers to three full time officers, one part time and five auxiliary officers.
The current 2.9 mill police levy, which expires at the end of 2015, brings in $88,000 annually.
“The new levy would place less of a demand on the general fund, which could allow us to make some improvements in the village, including the Community Center and adding trees to Burke Park,” said Fiscal Officer Bill Gilpin.
The special election will cost Bethel up to $7,200, a charge that will be deducted from the semi-annual disbursements Bethel receives from Clermont County.
Councilmember Priscilla Johnson was not present for the vote.