Fairfield Township is gearing up for a rematch with voters this fall, as trustees move to resurrect a 2.99-mill police levy that failed in May. Township leaders say the levy is aimed at shoring up department staffing and keeping pace with growing demand for calls for service. If approved, the continuing levy would start being collected in 2027 and is projected to bring in roughly $2.45 million a year.
First Vote Cast, Next One Looms
Trustees have approved the first of two required resolutions to put the 2.99-mill continuing levy before voters, kicking off the county auditor certification process, according to WCPO. The outlet reports the board could take a second, final vote at its July 14 meeting to officially place the measure on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. This latest move comes after similar levy attempts earlier in the spring fell short at the polls.
What The Numbers Look Like
The township’s levy-necessity measure, Resolution No. 26-16, pegs the rate at 2.99 mills and cites a Butler County auditor estimate that the tax would generate $2,459,542 a year, or about $105 annually for a home with $100,000 in appraised value, with first collections set for tax year 2027 if voters sign off, per Fairfield Township. The resolution also spells out the ballot language trustees would use if the measure moves forward. That certified revenue estimate is the figure trustees weighed this year when deciding whether to ask residents for ongoing police funding.
Plugging The Gap, One Transfer At A Time
To keep services running while the levy drama plays out, township officials have leaned on one-time transfers. This year, trustees moved $750,000 from the general fund into the police budget and tapped roughly $1.6 million from a Joint Economic Development District account, The Journal-News reported. The paper also notes that the department’s base revenue currently comes from a continuing 5.9-mill levy approved in 2000 and a 2015 safety-services levy, but officials say those dollars no longer stretch to cover rising costs and are not a sustainable fallback by 2027.
Calls Climb As Ranks Lag
The department handled 17,773 calls for service in 2025, according to the Fairfield Township Police Department’s December 2025 monthly report (Fairfield Township Police Department). Chief Robert Chabali told WCPO the agency has been operating well below its authorized strength of 28 officers, and said one resignation tied to the May levy defeat is set to take effect in early July. “We hope our residents understand our situation,” he said.
Ballot Box Rematch In November
If trustees approve the second resolution at their July meeting, the 2.99-mill police levy will land on the Nov. 3 general election ballot and, if approved, be placed on the 2027 tax list for collection. Supporters argue the measure is needed to stabilize patrol staffing and move away from repeated one-time fund transfers. Opponents are expected to focus on the tax hit to homeowners and to push for alternatives as the fall campaign unfolds.
