VOTE411 Voter Guide

Issue 2: City of OxfordAn additional tax for the benefit of the City of Oxford, Ohio, for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, and appliances, buildings and sites therefore, or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code, for the purchase of ambulance equipment, for the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department, or for the payment of other related costs, that the county auditor estimates will collect $1,284,681 annually, at a rate not exceeding Two and Six-Tenths (2.6) Mills for each One Dollar ($1.00) of taxable value, which amounts to $91 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for a ten (10) year period of time, beginning in 2024, first due in calendar year 2025.Explanation: If a majority vote for the levy then an additional 2.6 Mills for each $1.00 in taxable value will be placed on Oxford City properties. This equals $91 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised property value. The levy will apply for 10 years starting in 2024.Additional relevant information: As a state institution, Miami is not required to pay property taxes. However, 33.5% of Fire calls and 17% of EMS calls have been on Miami University-owned property. As a result, the Miami Board of Trustees approved a 10-year agreement with Oxford for an annual payment in lieu of taxes of $1.27 million to support Fire and EMS. The payment is dependent on the passing of this levy and on the city of Oxford continuing to spend a minimum of $270,000 a year on economic development.Arguments for:Oxford Fire/EMS Department projects a $2.54 million annual deficit at current funding levels. The department is already understaffed and has lost 4 of 9 FT firefighters/paramedics to other departments in the last 2 years. Without an increase in funding, services and staff will be further reduced.Passing the levy will activate Miami University’s $1.27 million 10-year annual payment in lieu of taxes.Arguments against:Butler County property valuations increased over the last year, with a median increase of 37%, leading to significant increases in property taxes. Increases in property taxes tend to impact those on a fixed income the most.It s unclear what amount Miami owes to support the number of Fire/EMS runs to campus; perhaps Miami s contribution should be more.