BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      In 2025, the Boardman Township Board of Trustees failed to place a 2.5-mill renewal operating levy on the ballot that if approved would have generated some $1.97 million a year for the township’s general fund.
      Speaking at a Boardman Civic Association informational election forum last week, Jeff Barone, a member of the Friends of Boardman Police & Fire Levy Committee, told those in attendance without passage of a 2.75-mill levy in this November’s general elections, Boardman Township will face projected budget deficits in 2027 and 2028, suggesting failure of the levy will not allow Boardman Township to maintain its current level of police and fire department services.
      The 2.75-mill issue is needed because of the failure of local government to seek the 2.5 mill issue last November.
      “There is no easy solution to rising personnel costs, rising expenses for insurance, equipment and technology,” Barone said, adding “And, of course, the increased demand for our fire and police services.”
      Since 2015, Barone said the rate of inflation has increased by some 40 per cent “and many traditional funding sources have either been eliminated of substantially reduced by changes in state law, including the loss of tangibles personal property tax revenues, elimination of the estate tax and reduction in the local government fund.”
      Barone said approval of the November operating levy would generate about $2.75 annually over a five year period at a cost of about $8 per month per $100,000 of property valuation.
      “There is no easy solution,” Barone again noted, adding “This comes down to providing our police chief (Todd Werth) and our acting fire chief (William Glaser) with the resources they need to protect our community.
      “The 2.75 mill levy will maintain current police and fire services by addressing rising operating costs and prevent projected budget deficits.”
      Boardman Township Trustees Steve Yacovone, Larry Moliterno and Matt Gambrel approved a 2026 operating budget in March of $25.372 million, about $708,000 less that the township’s $27.466 million budget that was approved for 2025 by then trustees Moliterno, Tom Costello and Brad Calhoun.
      A review of township finances provided by the Boardman Fiscal Office show that expenses incurred by the township through the first six months of 2026 are $15.093 million, or about $273,000 less than the same period in 2025.
      Township Fiscal Officer Brad Calhoun and Administrator Mike Ragozine said without passage of the levy in November, the township could incur a deficit in 2027 of some $850,000.
      However, that deficit appears to be already trimmed somewhat by cutbacks in expenses and the township’s reduced operating budget for 2026.
      On the income side of the ledger, Ragozine said the township lost about $200,000 in funding when the Mahoning County Commissioners said they would double the owner-occupancy tax credit, that provides homeowners with a 2.5 per cent decrease in property taxes.
      Calhoun and Ragozine also stated without additional funds. Boardman Township could face a deficit of some $5 million, or more in 2028.
      Manpower at Boardman Township’s police and fire departments has been decreasing, especially in light of potential future funding issues.
      Ragozine said that the police department currently employs 56 officers, down from 63 an authorized officers; and 33 persons are employed at the fire department, where 38 fire officers previously staffed that department.
      Currently, wage negotiations with Boardman Township’s dispatchers are reportedly pending the outcome of the 2.75-mill operating levy, and in 2027 contracts with unions representing the Boardman Police, Fire and Road Departments will expire.
     
      PICTURED:  JIM BARONE, pictured, a member of the Friends of Boardman Police & Fire Levy Committee told those attending a Boardman Civic Association forum last week ““There is no easy solution to rising personnel costs, rising expenses for insurance, equipment and technology,”