Four Stark County township road levies fail, Jackson police levy passes

Stark County voters turned down four township road levies but approved money for safety forces, according to Tuesday's unofficial election results.

The unofficial results show that the road levies in Perry, Pike, Lexington and Lawrence townships were defeated. Meanwhile, voters in Jackson Township and Beach City approved levies for their safety forces.

Meyers Lake residents overwhelmingly said "yes" to getting a tax break via a reduced road levy request, the unofficial results show.

Perry trustee: 'We knew this was a large ask'

In Perry Township, electors soundly defeated a five-year, 7.8-mill road levy, which would have generated $5.8 million annually for road operations. Issue 18 failed 64% to 36%, or 3,423 votes to 1,919, according to unofficial results from the Stark County Board of Elections.

Primary preview: A look at the March 19 tax requests for Stark County townships & villages

Perry Trustee Matt Miller said the township may try again in August or November to pass an amended road measure.

"Obviously, we're disappointed this (levy) didn't pass," Miller said, as the bulk of precincts were coming in Tuesday. "But it was also great feedback (from our voters)."

Levy dollars were targeted for paving, snow removal and drainage projects, as well as the hiring of two additional road maintenance employees. An estimated 100 miles of Perry roads were expected to be paved over the five years of the levy.

The road department presently operates on $1.2 million generated by a 1-mill levy and a 2-mill levy, which expires in 2025. Combined, those taxes cost the owner of a $100,000 home nearly $46 a year. The new 7.8-mill levy would have triggered the expiration of the 2-mill levy.

Miller is optimistic that Perry's road levy committee and trustees can work toward a remedy.

"We just need to find the right plan that fits our community," he said. "We knew this was a large ask."

Jackson Township, Beach City voters OK levies for safety forces

Voters in Jackson Township overwhelmingly pulled the lever in favor of a replacement measure on an existing 5.75-mill levy, which garners funds for police operations and protection. The levy passed with nearly 67% of the vote, which was good for 5,562 tallies in support compared with 2,797 votes against the measure, according to unofficial election results.

Jackson's five-year measure — Issue 16 — is based on revenue from existing property valuations and will generate $11.3 million annually.

Police Chief Mark Brink said the levy pays for vehicles and equipment, communications, facilities and officer salaries.

"We depend on this money to make our department go," said Brink, as favorable results were coming in Tuesday night. "It's the community's way of telling us we're doing a good job.

"And we feel we provide the township with quality service."

The cost to a homeowner is $201 for every $100,000 in property valuation, a $75 increase, according to the Stark County Auditor's Office.

In Beach City , voters approved Issue 8, which was a five-year renewal of a 3-mill fire levy. The measure passed by a 2-1 margin, 67% to 33%, or 94 votes to 46. The levy generates $33,000 annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home about $84 a year.

Meyers Lake residents say 'yes' to a tax break via new road levy

Meyers Lake residents gave themselves some tax relief on Tuesday by overwhelmingly approving Issue 5. Unofficial election results show the issue passed with 73% of voters in support. The overall vote was 152 to 56, unofficial results show.

Instead of seeking renewal of the current 5-mill road levy — first passed in 2013 and renewed in 2018 — the village asked for less money.

The renewal request had less millage — just 1 mill — and will generate $22,000 annually. Issue 5 will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $22 a year, almost $100 less than the current levy.

Voters defeat Lawrence, Lexington and Pike road tax measures

Lawrence Township asked voters for a second time to approve new tax dollars for road operations, maintenance and repairs. The five-year, 1.65-mill road levy fell 57% to 43%, or 1,124 votes to 855, unofficial election results show.

A similar tax request was also rejected in November.

In Lexington Township, electors defeated an additional five-year, 1.5-mill levy for road operations and maintenance. The levy failed by 129 votes, with 569 votes against it and 440 votes in support of the issue, unofficial election results show.

Pike Township voters said "no" to an additional five-year, 1-mill road levy, which saw 55% of township voters opposing it. Votes against totaled 327 and 275 were in favor, unofficial election results show.

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Stark County, Ohio election results for villages and townships