McDonald voters support safety services levy
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McDONALD - Village residents showed their support for the fire and police departments by supporting a 4.5-mill, five-year emergency safety services levy on Tuesday’s general election ballot.
Unofficial and incomplete results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections had the levy passing 59% for and 41% against.
“This levy was needed and the residents saw that. I thank them for their support,” Mayor Ray Lewis said.
He also thanked fire Chief Fred Marcum and police Chief Ryan Ronghi, who spoke at council meetings and at many committee events on the need for the levy, which is projected to generate approximately $310,000 annually to provide funding for the fire and police departments.
The additional levy will cost property owners roughly $159 per year for assessed property value of $100,000. Funds will be used for maintaining services, including round-the-clock fire and EMS staffing, as department costs rise.
The levy also will provide funds to cover day‑to‑day operating costs, wages and equipment needs for the village’s fire department, police department and emergency medical services.
Ronghi said village police officers have not received a cost-of-living adjustment since 2023, making it harder to keep officers who go elsewhere for more money or to attract people to work in the village.
"The levy is so important. I have lived here for 35 years. The well has run dry. We needed to pass the levy so we can pay and be competitive to what other police departments are paying," he said.
Marcum said the department staffs the station seven days a week providing 16 hours of coverage from 8 a.m. to midnight, but demand is increasing.
He said the cost volume for the fire department is increasing and the goal is to provide 24-hour service seven days a week with the levy money.
Marcum said that like the police department, fire department members have not had an increase since 2023 and are not paid as much as firefighters in other communities.