Concord Township voters will decide whether to approve a five-year, 3.9-mill additional levy for fire and EMS services during the Nov. 5 general election. Related Articles Election | Wickliffe to decide on non-medical, recreational cannabis dispensaries in city Election | Blackbrook Audubon to hear about ‘Wonderful Woodpeckers’ Election | Wickliffe Public Library hosting trivia game event for adults, teens Election | Emerging Leaders of UWLC accepting nominations for ‘4 Under 40’ through Oct. 10 Election | STEAM program launched for Willoughby-Eastlake elementary students If approved, the levy would generate $3,284,000 per year and cost $137 per $100,000 in appraised property valuation, according to the Lake County Auditor’s Office. A representative from the Auditor’s Office said that it used property values from before the 2024 property revaluations. Township officials said in a written statement that the levy would fund the fire department’s operational costs if approved. “The additional funds will support our fire department and maintain its excellent response times and allow for the replacement of needed fire equipment including fire engines and ambulances and firefighter personal protective equipment,” the township statement said. The statement added that the levy would prevent reductions in staffing. It would also allow the township to fund enough Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies to ensure that two would be on patrol duty in the township at any given time. “The beginning of 2024 saw the township safety budget start with over a $2 million dollar deficit,” the township statement said. “In addition, there is a staffing crisis in both police and fire services. There is a shortage of applicants and thus the demand and cost to fill these positions have increased significantly.” Township officials said that Concord’s safety services are currently funded by a fire operations levy and a combined police, fire and EMS levy. They added that Concord’s last safety service tax increase came in 2015, and costs have almost doubled since then. Township trustee Morgan McIntosh said that passage of the levy would provide the Concord Township Fire Department with an “adequate budget.” The township could then redirect more money from the combined safety services levy to fund law enforcement operations. If the levy fails, township officials anticipate cuts to fire department staffing and longer responses to 911 calls. Township Fire Chief Matt Sabo said that around 30 to 40 percent of the fire department’s calls overlap, meaning that there are multiple calls at the same time. If the department makes staffing cuts, he said that the response to a third or fourth overlapping call may need to come from a neighboring department. Township officials also expect further cuts to their policing contract if the levy fails. There were 15,430 registered voters in Concord Township as of Oct. 4, according to Lake County Elections Board records.