CANFIELD — City Council met in special session Wednesday to take the first step in placing a 3.9-mill police levy on the Nov. 3 ballot.

“This is the first of a three-step process,” said City Attorney Mark Fortunato. “We first pass this resolution, then have the funds certified, and at the July 15 regular council meeting, approve placing it on the Nov. 3 ballot.”

He said it will meet the Aug. 5 deadline to be on the ballot this year.

City Manager David D’Apolito said the 3.9-mill police levy was first passed in 2016 and took effect in 2017. It was renewed in 2021 and is now up for renewal again. When it was first passed, it collected an estimated $783,750 per year for the city to provide sufficient police services to the community.

“It is not collecting at 3.9 mills today,” said Councilman Mark Graham. “We won’t know the exact numbers until the auditor provides them.”

He said renewals normally collect at lesser amounts. All the new construction in business and residential are added to the mix, which lowers the effective rate at which a levy collects. It still brings in the same amount of money, but with more people and businesses in the mix, it makes the rate lower for everyone.