Hanover Township trustees submit new fire levy for county approval

The Hanover Township Board of Trustees voted to approve a resolution of necessity for a new levy to fund its volunteer fire department during an emergency special meeting in January after a levy on the November 2025 general election ballot failed.

According to Hanover Township Administrator Bruce Henry, the levy was meant to support 98% of the Hanover Township Fire Department budget, although it failed on Nov. 4, 2025, by 142 votes.

The former levy expired at the end of 2025 and was based on property valuations from 2016. The new levy would have collected an increased amount of funding, as it was based on newer valuations.

According to Henry, the 3.5 mill levy submitted for the November 2025 ballot, which would have collected $3.50 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value, was a “Band-Aid” to get the fire department through with a slight increase from 2016. 

When the 3.5 mill levy was voted down, Henry told the Oxford Free Press he felt it may have been because the language was misunderstood or because voters were unhappy with the property tax valuation increase, although he said “it was necessary in order to meet the growing expenses.”

After discussing the levy’s defeat, Henry said the board decided to submit a levy which would pull the fire department “ahead,” giving it room in its budget to handle inflation, including increases in the cost of equipment and pay raises.

The new levy approved by the board is for 5 mills, or $5 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value – an increase still.

Henry said the board decided the additional 5 mill levy has a chance, even after the 3.5 mill levy failed, because the number of votes it lost by wasn’t “very much.”

“The theory is, (if) we get the word out through the citizen groups, get them to understand what it takes to run the services that they wish, we think they’ll support this 5 mill,” Henry said.

The levy, which would cover all fire department expenses, will now be submitted to the Butler County Auditor’s office for certification for revenue generation. Once received, a resolution to proceed will need to be adopted by the Hanover Township Board of Trustees and submitted to the Butler County Prosecutor’s office for review.

All documentation needs to be submitted by Feb. 4.

Henry said since the new levy will be listed on the May primary ballot instead of during a special election, submitting it was at zero cost to the township. If the May levy fails, another one will need to be submitted for the November general election.

Right now, Henry said the fire department has some carryover from last year’s budget, and a “culmination” of funds that will keep services at the level “residents have come to expect.”

But if the levy continues to be voted down, he said there will be “severe consequences.” According to Henry, without levy funding, the department would need to begin cutting back on personnel and its ability to respond to calls 24/7.

The Hanover Township Board of Trustees will have its next regular meeting on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.