News
Albany Tries Again For Police Levy
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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The village on Albany is trying again to gain passage of a levy to continue support of its police department.
Paperwork was filed this week with the Athens County Board of Elections to put the 1.5-mill renewal on the November ballot. If approved, the levy will generate an estimated $18,297 annually, according to the Athens County Auditor’s Office.
The village tried for passage of the levy last November, although at that time it was on the ballot as a replacement levy, which would have raised slightly more money than a renewal. It was defeated in the 2013 election by two votes — 63 to 61.
Albany has one part-time officer, Robert Deardorff, who works about 30 hours per week, according to Mayor Tim Kirkendall.
The village has another police levy, which is 0.5 mill. It generates about $6,000, but Kirkendall said it is not sufficient by itself to support the police department.
“It would be tough,” Kirkendall said. “We’d have to spend some money out of the general fund.”
He said it also would likely be necessarily to reduce Deardorff’s work hours if the levy fails.