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WAYNE TOWNSHIP – For the Wayne Township trustees and the three fire departments supported by the township's fire levy, the Tuesday's election results showing the levy did not pass is a disappointment.
According to complete but unofficial results, the levy failed 175 (61.4%) to 110 (38.6%).
The additional 3-mill, five-year levy which would have cost property owners $105 a year per $100,000 property valuation, would have generated $78,761 annually to split three ways between Highlandtown, Franklin Township and West Point volunteer fire departments.
Property owners would have seen a tax increase of $25.16 per year.
The township's current fire levy, which could not be replaced, expires at midnight on Dec. 31, leaving the township with no fire levy.
Jim May, a township trustee and department head for Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department, said he believes the levy may have failed due to voter confusion regarding the language on the ballot.
May said a law enacted in 2024 that does not allow replacing levies hurts the townships when they have to run them as new or additional levies. Since the township currently has a levy in effect, even though it will be expiring, the levy to replace the current one had to go on the ballot as an additional levy.
May said the township will more than likely try for the fire levy again during the May 2027 election. He said he believes taxes are typically a year in arrears and noted he will have to check with the board of elections to verify that. If that is the case, the township will have funds for 2027. If that is not the case, there will be no levy money coming in for fire protection for residents.
May said they will have to put the levy on the May ballot and hope it passes if the residents want fire protection, and the trustees will have to meet to discuss what options they have soon.
May said he believes the fire departments will work with the trustees to get the situation figured out and noted that it would be a big hit out of the general budget if levy funds aren't available.
May said he couldn't speak for Highlandtown and West Point, but Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department will be tightening the buckle on spending and expenses for now.
"I don't see this shutting us down or anything, we are just going to have to tighten our belts," May said. "This is $22,000 that will come out of the fire department's budget."
Of the four townships to have a fire levy on the ballot, Wayne Township's was the only to fail.