Timothy Sumer

Ross Twp. taxpayers will see two tax questions on the November ballot to keep the police department afloat — a 3.75-mill renewal that won’t raise taxes and an additional 1.5 mills that would cost roughly $52 per $100,000. The township trustees had several options in dealing with the police levy that expires this year, and settled last Thursday on asking voters to approve a renewal of the 3.75 mill levy — but also asking them to make it permanent — that costs $105 annually on a $100,000 home or $227on $215,000, the median Ross Twp. home value. Since the existing levy collects about $800,000 annually and the police budget runs $900,000 to $1 million, the trustees are also asking for an additional 1.5 mills — for five years — to support a truly full-time police force. It would collect an estimated $361,053 annually. Trustee Keith Ballauer told the Journal-News if the renewal fails, it would mean the end of local police protection, “it’s do or die but you’re always stuck in th...