BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting last week, Boardman Township Trustees Steve Yacovone, Matt Gambrel and Larry Moliterno voted unanimously to place a 2.75-mill safety services levy on the November ballot.
      Trustee Chairman Yacovone noted “This levy is not to expand services we offer. This is strictly to maintain what we have provided and what we will continue to provide to residents...to keep our heads above water for the time being.
      While this is happening, we are going to look at other [funding] options for the future of Boardman Township.”
      Yacovone indicated other options including study a city form of government, “and other funding models.”
      Yacovone said he and his fellow trustees agree “the property tax model doe not work for large townships like Boardman. It has worked so far, but it doesn’t allow us to grow what we need to provide to the residents.”
      Noting Boardman becoming a city, Yacovone said “That does not mean were are going to go that route, however I believe it is the duty of this board to look at every possible option to move forwards.
      “When we see things like what happened on Sun., July 5, we don’t want to be short-staffed. We don’t want to lack the personnel and equipment we need when these emergencies occur.
      “This levy will allow us to maintain our services...Health care costs are rising, equipmentcosts are rising and our revenue stream has stayed static.”
      Longtime Trustee Moliterno stressed the 2.75-mill levy “is a safety services levy. We believe that in the long run, running a township solely on the back of property owners is not sustainable. I think it would be irresponsible to not look at every, single option.
      “We want to get away from general levies. People need to know what they’re voting for.”
      He added “employee need stability and I think we have to provide that stability.”
      If approved, the 2.75-mill measure will raise some $3.8 million annually.
      The 2.75 mill levy is needed in light of a 2.5-mill levy, first approved in 1995, that was not placed on the ballot for renewal last year resulting in the loss of some $2 million annually in tax revenue to Boardman Township.