What issues will appear on the May 2 ballot in Stark County townships? See here.

Paige Bennett, The Repository
Updated ·6 min read
Joggers make use of the path at Jackson Township's North Park. Township voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the parks department.
Joggers make use of the path at Jackson Township's North Park. Township voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the parks department.

Voters in a number of Stark County townships will face tax issues during the May 2 primary election.

Lawrence, Canton, Jackson, Tuscarawas and Osnaburg townships are seeking replacement or additional levies for road and fire departments or cemeteries. In the village of East Canton, voters will decide on a levy that would generate additional funds for the police department.

Here's an overview of the issues and what they would mean to taxpayers.

Stark County May 2 primary: Here's what to know as early voting begins

Jackson Township

Walkers enjoy the path at Jackson's North Park. Voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the township parks department.
Walkers enjoy the path at Jackson's North Park. Voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the township parks department.

Voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the township parks department. The issue would run for five years, generating $1.96 million annually. It would cost $35 for the owner of a $100,000 home, according to the Stark County Auditor's Office.

Jackson Township Administrator Mike Vaccaro said a big portion of the levy goes toward maintenance and upkeep of existing park features. He said it's also important for voters to consider how the township has used levy dollars in the past, which has included installing amenities such as an ice skating rink and pickleball courts.

"Obviously, new to our park system, we added 40 acres out at the former Tam O'Shanter Golf Course, which is now known as Schuring Park for the Jackson Township portion of that land. And that will undergo construction, earth movement within the next couple of weeks, weather depending," Vaccaro said.

He said the levy is adding no new millage, and that the goal is to bring the effective 1-mill millage back to where it was when the issue was initially passed.

Voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the township parks department. The issue is on the May 2 ballot.
Voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the township parks department. The issue is on the May 2 ballot.

Lawrence Township

Voters will face an additional, 1.65-mill levy for the road district that would run for five years. The issue would raise $416,859 annually and cost $57.75 per year to the owner of a $100,000 home, according to the Stark County Auditor's Office.

Mark Sibila, superintendent of the township road department, wrote in an email that funds generated by this levy would be used to purchase materials such as asphalt and gravel, and for the chip sealing, mowing and ditching of roadways.

Canton Township

The township is asking voters to approve a five-year, 5.9-mill levy for the fire department. Four of the mills would replace an existing tax, and 1.9 would be a new tax. The issue would generate $2.46 million annually and cost $206.50 to the owner of a $100,000 home, according to the Stark County Auditor's Office.

Township officials previously told the Repository that additional funds are needed for the fire department to address wages, building upgrades and new ambulances.

Tuscarawas Township

Voters will face an additional 0.5-mill fire levy that would run for five years. It would generate $85,773 in annual revenue and cost $17.50 to the owner of a $100,000 home.

Osnaburg Township

Township voters will see a trio of new property taxes on the ballot: 0.15 mills for cemetery maintenance; a 1.05-mill levy for road maintenance; and 1.3 mills for fire protection. All of the issues would run for a continuing period of time.

The cemetery tax would generate $21,333 annually, road maintenance $149,332 and fire $184,888. The issues would respectively cost $5.25, $36.75 and $45.50 to the owner of a $100,000 home.

The cemetery levy is needed to help with costs such as mowing and trimming trees, township officials told the Repository. The road levy would help with the rising costs of equipment and materials and wages for employees, and the fire levy would enable the department to increase wages, providing incentive for firefighters to stay at the department instead of leaving for a higher paying position elsewhere.

East Canton

The village is seeking a renewal of 6.6 mills and increase of 1.5 mills for its police department. The issue would generate $200,000 each year of its five-year run and cost $283.50 for the owner of a $100,000 home. Village officials have said the funds are necessary as the current levy falls short of paying for the department.

Sugarcreek Township

Voters will decide on a renewal of a 2.5-mill levy for the township's fire district. The issue would run five years, generating $283,786 annually and costing $45.17 to the owner of a $100,000 home.

Local options

Local option, Osnaburg Township A, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Stores Inc., dba Bell Stores 69, 102 E. Nassau St. (Osnaburg A).

Local option, Sugarcreek Township C, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Stores, Inc., dba Bell Stores 32, 120 S. Wabash Ave.

Local option, Canton 8-A, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Stores, Inc., dba Bell Stores 122, 3812 Cleveland Ave. NW.

Local option, Massillon 2-D, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Stores, Inc., dba Bell Stores 26, 519 Lincoln Way W.

Local option, Massillon 2-B, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Store Inc., dba Bell Stores 34, 108 Lake Ave. NE.

Local option, Alliance 4-C, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Stores, Inc., dba Bell Stores 52, 2491 W. State St.

Local option, Canal Fulton D, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Stores, Inc., dba Bell Stores 152, 2506 Locust St., Unit E.

Local option, Tuscarawas Township 4, Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages for Bell Stores, Inc., dba Bell Stores 31, 13172 Lincoln Way W (Excluding Subway restaurant).

Local option, Marlboro Township 1, Sunday sales of wine for Lost Trail Winery, LLC, 5228 State Street NE.

Local option, Plain Township 7, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor for City Diner Food Truck, L.L.C., dba Cracked Egg Café, 3110 Whipple Ave. NW, Suites 1, 2, 3 & patio.

Local option, Plain Township 7, Sunday sales, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, City Diner Food Truck, L.L.C., dba Cracked Egg Café, 3110 Whipple Ave. NW, Suites 1, 2, 3 & patio.

Local option, Plain Township 26, Sunday sales, beer, wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, Forever Brewing Company, dba Forever Craft Urban Winery, 2640 Easton St. NE.

Local option, Tuscarawas Township 3, Sundays sales, spirituous liquor, Up In Smoke Barbeque LLC/The Nook, 12356 Millersburg Road.

Local option, Plain Township 22, beer, wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, TLIK NC, LLC dba Maisano’s Little Italian Kitchen, 7831 Cleveland Avenue NW.

Local option, Plain Township 22, Sundays sales, beer, wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor, TLIK NC, LLC dba Maisano’s Little Italian Kitchen, 7831 Cleveland Avenue NW.

Walkers enjoy the path at Jackson's North Park at Wales Avenue and Fulton Drive NW. Voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the township parks department.
Walkers enjoy the path at Jackson's North Park at Wales Avenue and Fulton Drive NW. Voters will decide on a 1-mill replacement levy for the township parks department.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: See issues to appear on May ballot in Stark County townships