Westfield fire levy passes, avoiding potential staffing cuts

WESTFIELD – A proposed 3.1-mill levy for the Westfield Joint Fire District passed Tuesday, with nearly 56 percent of voters supporting the measure, according to unofficial final results from the Medina County Board of Elections. The levy received 1,135 votes in favor and 894 against, passing by a margin of 241 votes. The levy's passage comes after Westfield Township Trustee Joe Doty warned in an October interview that a failure would force township officials to make immediate budget cuts, including potentially eliminating overnight staffing at the fire department. Doty said Tuesday the levy's success was the result of a coordinated effort involving residents and officials from both Westfield Township and Westfield Center. "It was definitely a group effort that involved many people from the village and many people from the township," Doty said. Doty said early results indicated the levy passed in both the township and the village, which he described as particularly encouraging. He said the support demonstrated that residents viewed fire and emergency medical services as a shared community responsibility. Before the election, Doty said a failed levy would prompt the township trustees to meet within days to implement approximately $75,000 in immediate cuts. The most significant potential reduction would have been eliminating the department's overnight shift, which runs from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., Doty said in October. The department currently operates with around-the-clock staffing, allowing it to respond to calls throughout the day and night. Doty said officials worked to explain the consequences of a failed levy to residents. "We really tried hard to explain to the community what the consequences were going to be if this levy failed," he said. "Clearly the community received that message." The additional 3.1-mill property tax levy will fund fire and emergency medical services for the joint district. The five-year levy commences in 2026, with its first collection due in 2027. The measure was estimated to generate approximately $802,600 annually and cost property owners about $109 per year for every $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised property value. The joint district was established through cooperation between Westfield Township and Westfield Center, giving both communities representation in decisions about the department's operations and funding. Doty said the apparent support from both communities was especially encouraging. "That's just fantastic that the support was across the whole community," he said. Contact Brooke Adams at 440-822-8373 or badams@medina-gazette.com.