Kent Fire Levy on Ballot Tuesday

Kent voters citywide will decide whether to renew a levy that pays for the operation of the West Side Fire Station during Tuesday's election.

The issue is the only one in Kent on Tuesday's ballot. Ward representatives on Kent City Council are up for election this year, but there are no challengers within the same party, so no candidates will appear on Tuesday's ballot.

The west side fire levy expires at the end of this year and collects at a rate of 0.71 mills. The levy generates about $274,000 a year towards the city's second fire station, which primarily serves neighborhoods west of the Cuyahoga River and parts of Franklin Township.

If approved as a renewal, the levy will cost the owner of a home with a $100,000 value $21.80 per year.

Voters will be asked to vote for or against the tax levy. The language that will be on the ballot Tuesday is as follows:

A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the City of Kent west of the Erie Railroad for the purpose of maintaining and operating a fire station in the City of Kent west of the Erie Railroad (West Side Fire Station) at a rate not exceeding 0.73 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 73 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2011, first due in calendar year 2012.

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7:30 p.m. Click on this link for polling locations.