Fire protection and EMS funding among municipal issues on May 2 ballot in central Ohio

No municipal levies or issues are on the May 2 primary ballot in Franklin or Union counties, but there are numerous such measures on the ballot in five other central Ohio counties.

Many of the municipal ballot issues involve funding for fire and EMS services, especially in Licking County. And while most are renewals of existing levies, there are some that are additional levies or first-time requests for funding. For example, Buckeye Lake village is seeking both a 5-mill renewal plus an additional 3 mills for a total 8-mill property tax for fire protection and EMS.   The Village of Utica in Licking County is seeking an additional 5 mills in property tax to fund its police department.

But there are other municipal issues on the ballot beyond public safety as well. Voters in Berkshire Township, Delaware County, for example, will decide whether to rezone approximately 88 acres to allow a Columbus-based real estate development company to build a subdivision of single-family homes there. Residents in Walnut Township, Pickaway County, have a similar zoning referendum involving a former golf course.

Road, bridge and cemetery maintenance levies and referendums on whether to participate in gas or electric aggregation efforts intended to reduce rates are also on some ballots.

And although there are no municipal-wide issues in Franklin County, there are dozens of local option referendums before voters in individual precincts in Columbus and in other central Ohio municipalities asking voters for approval of liquor sales at grocery stores and convenience store gas stations and/or to expand existing sales to Sundays.

To see what may be on your ballot May 2, go to your county Board of Elections website, search for sample ballot or what is on my ballot, and put in your address.

Here is a listing of municipal election issues in central Ohio counties outside of Franklin County:

Delaware County

Berkshire Township: Voters will decide on a referendum petition whether to amend the township zoning map to allow Highland Realty Development to build a subdivision on about 88 acres at Dustin and Plumb roads.

Fairfield County

City of Lancaster:  A 10-year, 3-mill replacement tax for general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads, and bridges.

Village of Buckeye Lake: (Note: Part of the village is also in Licking County) A 5-mill property tax renewal and an increase of 3 mills for a total of 8 mills for five years for fire protection and EMS.

Licking County

Village of Buckeye Lake: (Note: Part of the village is also in Fairfield County) A 5-mill property tax renewal and an increase of 3 mills for a total of 8 mills for five years for fire protection and EMS.

Granville Township and Village:  A five-year, 0.5-mill renewal levy for maintaining and operating cemeteries. Voters in those communities will also consider a gas aggregation referendum.

Village of Gratiot: (Note: part of village also in Muskingum County) Gas and electric aggregation referendums

Hanover Township and Village: A five-year, 1-mill additional property tax for maintaining and operating cemeteries.

Monroe Township and City of Johnstown: A continuing, additional 4.5-mill property tax for fire protection and EMS.

Union Township: An additional five-year, 7-mill property tax for fire protection and EMS.

Village of Utica: (Note: Part of the village is also in Knox County)An additional 5-mill property tax for five years for operation of a police department.

More details on Licking County issues: Five Licking County communities seek additional funds for police, fire, cemeteries

Madison County

Jefferson Township: A continuous, additional property tax of 3.5 mills to fund fire department and EMS operations.

London: A proposed 0.25% increase in the city's income tax — which is currently 1.5% — to pay the costs of acquiring, constructing, furnishing, equipping, improving, maintaining, and repairing city fire department facilities, and to pay any expenses and debt service charges to do so.

Pickaway County

Walnut Township: A proposal to rezone two parcels of land, formerly known as the Upper Landsdowne Golf Course, from special use to farm residential.

Washington Township: A continuing, 1.3-mill replacement levy for general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, and repair of streets, roads, and bridges.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fire and EMS among issues on May 2 municipal ballots in central Ohio