State lawmakers are looking to preserve the full funding behind fire and emergency medical services (EMS) levies, even in the face of certain tax abatements.
Newly proposed Ohio House Bill 778 would require anyone that benefits from tax abatements or tax exemptions to continue paying the portions of their taxes that fund fire or EMS levies.
This would include any taxes levied by :
- Joint Fire Districts
- Township Fire Districts
- Fire and Ambulance Districts
- Joint EMS Districts
- Township fire and EMS Levies
The legislation was introduced Wednesday by State Representatives Kevin Miller (R-Newark) and David Thomas (R-Jefferson). They say that the bill addresses how economic development programs aimed at easing tax burdens on people and businesses, may also unintentionally reduce funding for public safety services…