Salem Township residents will be asked next spring whether they are willing to pay more to keep fire and EMS coverage at its current pace. In January, township trustees voted to place a new 3.9 mill levy for the Salem/Morrow Fire Department on the May 5, ballot to bolster staffing and day-to-day operations, saying growth in the area and a jump in calls have stretched the department thin.
Fire Chief John Moenster told trustees the department has seen roughly a 35% increase in run volume over the past decade and now needs "one additional person on shift" to keep response times and safety where they are. That would move staffing from four to five firefighters on each 24 hour shift. Without fresh funding, he warned, the department could struggle to maintain current service levels, according to the Warren County Post.
Trustees Put Tax Question On The Ballot
The board formally advanced the proposal at its Jan. 13 meeting, adopting Resolution 01-2026 that declared it necessary to levy an additional tax and authorized the chief to certify the question to the Warren County Board of Elections, according to the Salem Township meeting minutes. The levy is set to appear on the May 5 primary ballot, which is the statewide primary date listed by the U.S. Vote Foundation.
What It Will Cost And Cover
Township and fire officials say the proposed 3.9 mill additional levy would run about $137 per $100,000 of property value, compared with the expiring 2016 levy at roughly $74 per $100,000. That works out to a net increase of about $63 per $100,000 and is projected to bring in around $441,388 a year. Officials say the new revenue would go toward adding staff, covering rising overtime and operating costs, and maintaining training and equipment, according to the Warren County Post.
Rising 911 Runs Stretch Crews Thin
Trustees were told the department handled about 1,100 runs in 2025, a number recorded in the Jan. 13 meeting minutes and cited during discussions about staffing needs. The Salem/Morrow Fire Department lists its roster on its website and identifies as a combined fire and EMS agency serving the village of Morrow and Salem Township, according to the department site.
How To Vote And What Happens Next
Local levies in Ohio pass or fail by simple majority, according to the Ohio Secretary of State, and voters can review sample ballots, key deadlines and absentee voting options on the Warren County Board of Elections website. If this measure is approved, trustees say it would run for five years as an additional levy rather than a renewal of the 2016 tax, and fire officials plan to file the required certification with the county elections office as they make their case to residents between now and Election Day.
