Forest Park Passes a New

Fire Levy
By: Jaeydah Edwards
Earlier this year, in May, the Forest Park Fire Department decided it was time to put a
levy on the May ballot. Many city departments are set up to operate under the general fund. The
Forest Park EMS Department is set up to operate under the funding of property tax levies. In
2008, a 9.7 mill fire levy was passed, but it was not enough to be sustained through 2016. This
meant decisions had to be made in 2015.
A new levy is needed to sustain the departments operation and to expand level of
personnel and equipment. The old fire levy only generated about $2.9 million annually. This was
not enough to support our fire departments programs. Last May, the city asked the Hamilton
County Auditors Office to estimate what additional millage would generate for the fire levy. At
that time, each additional mill would have generated about $313,000 for the department and cost
the owner of a $100,000 house an additional $35 annually.
As Forest Park citizens, we feel that the fire levy was very important to our fire
department and EMS department. This is because it provided more money for funding to our
departments. This funding allowed for more firefighters to be hired. It also allowed for an
expansion of equipment. This expansion is very important to our fire department because it
allows for better protection of our community. The fire levy passed with 897 votes for it. That
totaled to 63 percent for the levy.
However, not all Forest Park citizens were supportive of the levy. With 530 votes against
it, 37 percent of voters were not willing to support the tax levy. They were not willing to pay the
tax increase to support the fire and EMS departments.
Despite the votes against the levy, it was still able to successfully pass. As stated by
Forest Park Fire Chief Alfie Jones, I am elated at the support and backing of the community for
our fire department.
This event relates to federalism because under federalism, the national and state
governments share powers. Some powers are delegated to the national government, while others
are reserved for the states. The national government can provide funding to the state
governments. This can be done through grants given to the states by the national government.

The states also have the power to issue taxes. They can raise money for their programs by
increasing taxes in their state for the needed funding. In the case of the Forest Park fire levy, the
local government, created by the state government, used its power to raise taxes in Forest park
after the levy passed. The owner of a $100,000 house would have to pay an additional $35
annually. This tax increase allows us to pay for the much needed funding for the fire and EMS
departments. This funding will allow for more safety and security in our community.