Athens County voters chose to increase property taxes Tuesday by approving a levy to support Athens County Emergency Medical Services.
Homeowners paying property taxes on a $40,000 home will see a $3.17 increase in taxes whereas those paying on a $100,000 home will have their taxes increased by $7.94.
That should generate about $150,000 in new revenue for Athens County EMS, which has received $296,159 a year since it was first implemented in 1999. With the replacement property tax revenue, the EMS will now generate $446,173.
The replacement levy, or Issue 1 on the ballot in Athens County, passed with 67 percent of the vote—or 5,017 votes for the levy and 2,396 against it.
Athens County EMS opted to replace its current property tax revenue, as opposed to renewing it, because the extra $150,014 can be used to renovate some of its buildings and replace some squad vehicles, EMS Chief Rick Callebs said.
Had it chosen to renew the tax revenue, the EMS would continue making $296,159 each year.
“Some of our buildings are getting old and need some work, so we’re doing some studies to see whether to renovate or physically move the (Nelsonville) station to Athens,” Callebs said, adding the almost 25-year-old building needs a new roof.
“It was built in the ’70s, and we’ve been looking on and off since 2005 to relocate the facility or add on to it,” he said. “The passing of this levy will allow us to explore those options.”
Athens County Commissioner Charlie Adkins said he was satisfied with the final results.
“Having Issue 1 pass will be a good opportunity to upgrade the stations and increase the EMS response times as a result,” Adkins said. “I think it’ll be a while before we need to worry about this again.”
Even though the levy is increasing taxes, Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason said people voted in favor of it because having a good emergency team is a valuable service.
“Whenever there’s an emergency situation, you want to make sure there are people that are going to help you out,” Eliason said.
Callebs said that he believes though there is never a good time to try to renew a levy, he’s glad the people of Athens County were understandable.
“Athens County voters have always been good to us on EMS levies; I can’t remember one of them ever failing,” Callebs said. “We’re very appreciative of the voters and residents of Athens County and we’ll always be here for them.”
az346610@ohiou.edu
@XanderZellner
