By CHRIS WITEOF
Record Herald Writer
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MIAMI COUNTY - Three local levies achieved renewal this year when the polls closed last Tuesday. The West Milton Police and Fire Safety, Bethel Emergency Medical Services and Fire, and Monroe Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levies all passed again.

The levies will continue to provide for valuable services that save and protect lives without any increase to current taxes.

The police and fire levy for West Milton is a one-half percent income tax, which is in place to help offset the cost of these services. This levy generates $250,000 a year, making it a considerable portion of the $800,000 annual budget.

The money is divided between the police and fire operations with funds being apportioned on a yearly basis depending on the budget and needs.

Since the levy passed 10 years ago, it has allowed for replacement of fire equipment and helped meet staffing requirements of the Police Division.

“I would like to sincerely thank the residents of the West Milton Community for the renewal of the fire and police income tax. In these trying times, with shrinking budgets, these funds are an essential part of our annual budget,” said Interim Municipal Manager Ben Herron.

Herron thinks Milton is lucky to have such a dedicated police force and fire department, but credits the citizens with allowing them to “continue to be well-equipped and be able to provide the excellent services our community deserves.”

Monroe Township EMS

The Monroe Township EMS levy will continue services to more than 6,000 residents living in the unincorporated areas of Monroe Township. Around 80 percent of the cost will be taken care of by this 1 mill levy.

Instead of the vast expense of having their own EMS department, Monroe Township receives EMS services through a contract with Tipp City. This renewal means that EMS will be provided to residents for another five years.

Monroe Township Trustee Philip G. Cox said, “We appreciate the support of the Monroe Township residents in passing this levy.”

Bethel Township EMS and fire

The 2-mill levy for Bethel EMS and Fire accounts for one third of the funding required for these services. This levy generates approximately $242,000 a year which, along with a continual or permanent 1.5 levy and EMS billing, provides citizens with emergency medical services and fire protection. This levy also provides funding for the night time bonus program.

A couple of years ago, the department would be fully staffed by day, but volunteers handled the overnight. Since the volunteers stayed at home, in the event of a call, the volunteer had to go to the station, get the equipment and vehicle, and then go out on the run.

In February 2009, however, the department put the bonus program in place. This allowed the runners to still get their hourly pay per call, but also receive $50 a night to stay at the station.

This has allowed more volunteers to stay at the station, instead of at their homes, which drastically reduces response time.
Bethel now has four members on call at night, but it is cost effective when compared to other fire stations. New Carlisle spends $9,360 a month to keep two part-time firefighters on staff at night, but Bethel’s program provides four firefighters at night and costs only $5,919 per month.

Township Administrator Michael Gebhart also offers gratitude to the township for continuing this and other programs.

“We’d just like to thank the residents for voting for the levy, so we can continue to provide Fire and EMS for our citizens,” he said.