About Xenia

Category: News and Announcements

Posted by: Michellej

At the Xenia City Council meeting on Thursday, February 11, 2010, Council conducted a second reading of a Resolution to place on the May 4, 2010, primary election ballot a question to raise the City of Xenia's income tax rate from 1.75% to 2.25%. This Resolution, passed unanimously, is the last step in the process that will give voters the right to determine its level of safety services. The proposed tax increase is expected to generate an estimated $2.7 million for the City. This revenue would help to maintain current Police and Fire services as well as provide much needed dollars for street improvements and other general capital improvements.

Fire Chief Jeff Leaming said, "The Xenia Fire Division prides itself on effective Fire and Emergency Medical Services. We have an excellent group of dedicated employees that respond to the emergency needs of this community. However, without the additional revenue, things will change. The layoff of six firefighters is imminent and will force the closure of Fire Station 2 (849 W. Second St.). We will not have adequate staffing to maintain that station. These cuts will definitely affect the level of service we can provide to our residents. Without adequate personnel, we will not be able to meet the needs of our citizens ... and that is a tremendous concern."

Police Chief Randy Person said, "This levy is critical for the future of our Police services. Already, two positions remain vacant-additional cuts will further compromise the safety of our residents and our City. The revenue from this levy will be used to fund the re-employment of two officers, including the School Resource Officer, and it will save four Police Officers from being laid off. It will also fund the purchase of our capital needs including police cars. All of these things are important to our Police force ... we want to provide our residents and our City with excellent Police services, but we can't do that without additional revenue. In my 33 years of service with the City, this is the most serious financial crisis faced by the Police Division."

To read the Press Release in its entirety, please click here.

To learn more about this ballot issue, please click here.

To learn more about the Xenia Fire Division, please click here.

To learn more about the Xenia Police Division, please click here.

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