South Zanesville Fire Levy to Appear on Tuesday’s Ballot

SOUTH ZANESVILLE, OH – Voters in South Zanesville will see a fire levy on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The proposed five-year, three-mill levy would generate approximately $110,000 annually for the South Zanesville Fire and EMS Department.

According to the department, the additional funding would help address rising operating costs, aging emergency vehicles, equipment needs and firefighter recruitment and retention.

“That levy is to support the fire department operations and EMS operations,” Fire Chief Russ Taylor said. “Equipment’s got hard to pay for now. Everything’s gone up, bills have gone up.”

The department’s emergency vehicles include a 29-year-old tanker, an 18-year-old fire engine and a 14-year-old medic unit.

If approved, the levy would cost property owners approximately $105 annually for every $100,000 in county auditor market value.

Taylor said the department does not anticipate changes to its current services if the levy fails, but the additional funding would help ease financial pressures.

Voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve the additional funding for the next five years.