29-01-2025
Austintown grapples with fallout from failed police levy
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Austintown officials warned in November that the failure of their police levy would have consequences. Officials are taking a hard look at the bottom line and what it means for the township's police department 'We're looking to have about $870,000 at the end of 2025 in the general fund unless departments perform better than expected,' said Austintown Township Administrator Mark D'Apolito, The township is starting at a budget shortfall. American Rescue Plan money and other assistance has expired, and a police levy that would have generated $2.2 million per year failed in November. It's something they could revisit in the future. 'Everything we are doing now is to try to get us to a future year to try and get the police levy another time on the ballot. To try and show the voters that hey, you told us to try and deal with less and we are going to try to do our best to do that, but ultimately if we're going to maintain or go back to the way things have been, we're going to need additional levies,' D'Apolito said.
Currently, the township is looking at cutting overtime was well as hiking rates for its dispatch center to generate more cash flow Equipment and cruisers are also in limbo as the township looks for ways to pinch pennies.'That's why we're taking the precautionary measures now, .which might be a slight inconvenience to some. But in the big scheme of things, is to protect all of you in the end to avoid the serious cuts,' said Austintown Township Trustee Bruce Shepas.
Further complicating matters, the township receives a federal grant that provides about $700,000 to the department. On Tuesday, the Trump Administration tried to freeze federal funding, creating confusion for township officials on whether or not that money would be available. However, a judge has thawed the freeze on grants and loans at least until Monday.
Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants — a financial lifeline for local governments, schools and nonprofit organizations around the country — was necessary to ensure that spending was reviewed and complies with Trump's recent blitz of executive orders.
But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.
'We have not received word for sure that it's going to impact this grant,' D'Apolitio said.
Police officers are wary of falling below staffing minimums of five officers per shift, a stipulation mandated in the current collective bargaining agreement between the township and the police union. Right now, laying off officers is not on the table.
'Without a doubt, if revenues don't increase going into future years, there's a very distinct possibility of some staff changes,' D'Apolito said.
Township officials say this is all to prevent layoffs. They're not sure at what point they'd explore another police levy. There is a renewal levy that comes up every five years that is expected to be on the ballot in May.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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