A proposed 1.5-mill replacement levy for Washington Twp. recreation would bring in an additional $1.34 million a year to handle higher costs to deliver services as well as repairing, updating and replacing facilities.

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The five-year levy will appear on the May 2 ballot as Issue 4 and would replace an expiring 1-mill levy if voters approve.

The current levy, which funds recreation services for township and Centerville, generates $3,278,936 a year. The money provides for programming and services that include a fitness center, climbing wall, summer camps and Town Hall Theatre to name a few. It ensures that the department can recruit and retain staff.

The extra annual revenue of $1.34 million would pay for the replacement of aging HVAC systems, vehicles for senior and youth programs, updating and adding locker rooms, resurfacing parking lots, repairing restrooms at Town Hall and more.

“The recreation department continues to be excellent stewards of taxpayer money by taking care of what we have and investing in programs that benefit the entire community,” Trustee President Dale Berry said in a prepared statement the township released Thursday afternoon. The added money from the replacement levy would also pay for improvements to Countryside Park that include permanent bathrooms, widened park trails, and the revitalization of Bass Lake, Turtle Lake, and Heron Pond, according to the township.

Washington Twp. leverages tax dollars through alternate funding sources, securing $1,017,347.88 in grants during the last five years, according to the township Some of projects financed by that grant money include renovation of Town Hall, the revitalization of Turtle Pond and Bass Lake, the purchase of an aquatic wheelchair, a new water feature at the pool, the resurfacing of playgrounds and installing an accessible ramp to Santa’s cabin in the park.

“If approved, the additional levy funding would directly support the recreation department’s mission to build a ‘shared sense of community for all ages by providing diverse programs in a safe and engaging environment,’ ” Berry said.