Hinckley looking into potentially putting a police levy on a future ballot

HINCKLEY TWP. — Hinckley Township is considering increasing revenue for police services in the township by potentially putting a levy on a ballot. During the trustees meeting Tuesday, Fiscal Officer Rich Fay said the township currently has four police levies that it is collecting on from 1983, 1989, 1991 and 2001. Approximately $1.5 million a year is collected across the levies. "As new homes are built, the amount of what we collect doesn't change," he said. "The new values are put into it, but everybody else's amount kind of goes down, so the end result is we get about the same as new construction goes in." In 2015, the total assessed value of property in Hinckley was $308 million, and it increased to $646 million in 2025, Fay said. "Basically, the total assessed value of property in Hinckley over the last 10 years has gone up 109 percent," he said. "With respect to the police levies, basically that amount has stayed the same that entire period of time." The four levies go into the police fund and can only be used for police services, Fay said. Expenses have been greater than revenue for police in the township for the past few years. Expenditures have exceeded revenue by the following: $200,000 deficit in 2022. $259,000 deficit in 2023. $425,000 deficit in 2024. $460,000 deficit in 2025. A projected deficit of $600,000 in 2026. "This is not a new thing," Fay said. "It's been out there for a few years, but this year, the police fund carryovers we've had from year to year will run out of money in effect." Therefore, the police fund would need to be supplemented by general funds based on the police department's current revenue streams, he said. "It's a domino effect," Fay said. "We spend approximately $1 million a year on roads. These are new projects — chip and seal, asphalt, etcetera — and that would impact and have a ripple effect through the entire township budget." It is roughly estimated that the township would collect $317,000 on a new 0.5-mil levy and around $1.2 million on a new 2-mil levy, he said. There are four steps to putting a levy on the ballot, which would need to be done 90 days before the election, Fay said. The board of trustees would pass a resolution of necessity, the Medina County Auditor's Office would certify it, the board of trustees would pass a resolution to proceed and then the township would present the resolution to the board of elections for review and certification for the election. "Keep in mind, if we're shooting anything for May, our target date has to be Feb. 4 where it's filed with the board," he said. Fay intends to speak with the auditor's office to get more details on the process. The board of trustees has not made a final decision regarding putting a levy on a future ballot. "I think, personally, I would rather take our time, go through it, do it right and make sure the amount we want is correct and reasonable, and we can support it and justify it rather than rushing through," he said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.