The Bethel Twp. Fire Department wants to put an emergency five-year, 2-mill levy on the November ballot, the first time it's asked for new tax money since 2002. Bethel Twp. trustees are expected to vote tonight on putting the issue on the ballot. If approved by voters, it would generate about $398,000 a year.
The department has averaged almost 2,200 calls in each of the past few years, with nearly 1,800 of those being EMS calls. King has noticed an almost three-fold increase in calls since he began in 2004 and said that’s contributed extra wear and tear to the vehicles and equipment.
One of the biggest problems the department would face if the levy doesn’t pass would be its insurance rating, King said. Fire departments are rated on a variety of factors, including their response times, which then affects homeowner’s insurance rates. Residents could see a significant rise in their insurance premiums, King said.