Fire taxes OK'd in Liberty, Cass townships

FINDLAY — Voters in Liberty and Cass townships approved taxes for fire protection in Tuesday's primary election. In Liberty Township, the tally was 568 votes, or 57%, for the 0.9-mill five-year property tax, and 433 votes against. In Cass Township, the vote was 74, or 63% in favor of the 1-mill, five-year property tax, and 43 votes against. Results Tuesday night from the Hancock County elections board were unofficial and included absentee voting. Liberty Though it is the same rate and term as the current tax which will expire at year-end, the tax approved Tuesday by voters is labeled an "additional" tax. That's because this time the tax can be used for purchasing and maintaining buildings, which the tax revenue currently cannot be spent on. The township is "looking at a possible building expansion" for its volunteer Fire Department, Township Trustee Evan Stump said. It also will likely be providing more training for firefighters and installing more hydrants. The real estate tax will generate an estimated $248,000 per year, according to the County Auditor's Office. For the owner of a $100,000 home, the tax will cost $32 per year; for the owner of a $200,000 home, the tax will cost $64 per year; and for the owner of a $300,000 home, the tax will cost $96 per year, County Auditor Charity Rauschenberg said. Cass Cass Township has no fire department. It currently contracts with fire departments in Washington and Allen townships and the village of Bloomdale for its fire protection, Cass Township Fiscal Officer Jessica Stacy said. The township pays the cost for those contracts, about $45,000 per year, out of its general fund, Stacy said. She said levy funds will be used to pay for the fire protection contracts. The real estate tax will generate $45,000 per year, according to the Hancock County Auditor's Office. For the owner of a $100,000 home, the tax will cost $35 per year. For the owner of a $200,000 home, it will cost $70 per year; and for the owner of a $300,000 home, the tax will cost $105 per year, County Auditor Charity Rauschenberg said.