Two local police departments going after new tax dollars on the Nov. 4 ballot include Washingtonville Village and Goshen Township.

While no one responded from Washingtonville concerning the levy, the ballot issue states that Washingtonville voters will be facing a 2.5-mill, five-year additional levy that will raise $26,085 per year for police department operating expenses. The levy amounts to $88 per year on each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value.

The other police department seeking funds is Goshen, but that community is looking at a replacement levy.

“The levy was originally passed in 2006 at 5.7 mills for a continuous period of time. In 2006, it brought in around $380,000,” police Chief John Calko said.

The levy covered everything for the department, including vehicles, salaries, operations and equipment. Since 2006, Calko said prices have gone up for just about everything, while the department was still running off the original levy, which is now collecting at 3.2 mills.

“We didn’t want to ask for a new levy,” Calko said. “We just wanted to bring the 2006 levy up to today’s standards.”

Calko estimates the replacement levy will bring in roughly $242,000 more each year. He said it will help maintain the department into future years and will stop the use of the department’s savings account.

“At one time, we had $100,000 in a savings account,” he said. “We’ve had to tap into that account to keep the department going. We can’t continue to do that without eventually going bankrupt.”

He said the savings account has about $20,000 left.

In the meantime, prices for vehicles and equipment have risen sharply and competitive wages are making it harder to find and keep good recruits. Calko said big cities like Cleveland and Columbus offer high wages with which small towns and villages in Ohio can’t compete.

In Goshen, Calko said he is lucky enough to be able to keep the roster full while being among the lowest wages in the county.

“I pride myself on having a good work environment,” he said. “We actually have people on a waiting list.”

His department has 11 full-time and nine part-time officers.

The 5.7-mill replacement levy is estimated to cost the taxpayer $200 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value. The levy will be a continuous one.

“We desperately need this levy,” Calko said. “Try running a household today on wages you made in 2006. That is what we are presently doing.”