[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6181120,"mediaKeyId","5113561-89ece931470a2ccc84e22296c9466c19","parentId",5113561,"title","Trustees press transportation district on Princeton Road roundabout; urge public comment","audioSeconds",259,"startMs",5579000,"endMs",5838000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113561-89ece931470a2ccc84e22296c9466c19&start=5579&end=5838","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113561-89ece931470a2ccc84e22296c9466c19/thumbnail_5579000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181120/Ohio/Trustees-press-transportation-district-on-Princeton-Road-roundabout-urge-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181120-f29da3bba71b9049ae956426b57d3499/orig.mp4?Expires=1771058032&Signature=jyDq7ZQzpANTVA0MjKO~L3LxCn29zbFTKnUF7Qy~UeCnx06Op2-4IbWlyGmrxVa7nM85s5lI8xxzCkv81s63hjgJ7b~OD41E1XthIrgzqHBLbZ2GEYKeC4VtkltjESfkUVnVIJxrtX6ADhsYCjsXrlffx9N8skTtzZHJUVlyyc8jjZxcvqkrDkeQNo7TJLPUUBppe-fB~RENRdse797tZY~5R0FRQl1IrvgVTN~lxlEl~1M6DIjboI7Ps5sUQJUxca91r1dxHH3M2KTLXmx7MLWj5tlyjoIlQz6BVfT69kpxHEAgdbmb4HRCvlx-v~ekB4mPpxa3q3MM0wVL6nw7~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fairfield Township, OH ","date","2025-07-01T18:58:36Z","article","Trustee McAfee reported on a recent Transportation Improvement District (TID) public meeting and told trustees he was concerned about the project’s potential impact on township roads if heavy traffic is funneled onto local streets.

“We had the meeting last week… I don't think you need to spend 30 to $35,000,000 to drop all that traffic on our township road without any foreseeable help for us,” Trustee McAfee said, urging residents and trustees to engage with the TID process.

Trustees said the TID representatives indicated funding to begin environmental study and a roundabout on the west section, but not for the other sections yet. Trustee Harkemeyer explained that the TID would not begin property acquisition or construction for other parts until funds were identified and cautioned that the sequence of sections was not fixed; if the east section is built first it could include central-section segments near Route 4 and Fair Avenue.

Trustees asked the administrator to post the TID meeting materials and the public-comment link on the township website and encouraged residents to respond within the 30-day comment window. Trustee McAfee said he would have the administrator place the link on the township site and urged citizens to submit feedback by the deadline.

Why this matters: The TID project includes a proposed roundabout and other changes that could redirect substantial traffic onto township roads, with potential consequences for maintenance costs and traffic safety. Trustees urged public participation and said they will monitor funding and sequencing to protect township interests.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairfield Township Board of Trustees Meeting 7/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees raised concerns about traffic impacts from a planned Transportation Improvement District project and asked the administrator to post project materials and a public comment link; they warned of potential negative impacts on township roads if construction and funding plans are not coordinated.","taxTitle","Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio","taxId",55541,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181124,"Fairfield Township trustees adopt 2026 tax budget; debate levies and urge internal cuts before new taxes",429,5063000,5492000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113561-89ece931470a2ccc84e22296c9466c19&start=5063&end=5492","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113561-89ece931470a2ccc84e22296c9466c19/thumbnail_5063000.jpg","/articles/6181124/Ohio/Fairfield-Township-trustees-adopt-2026-tax-budget-debate-levies-and-urge-internal-cuts-before-new-taxes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181124-4146eb5466c031cc5f3a0dca942f8408/orig.mp4?Expires=1771058032&Signature=gAFaxla5XAee63AInmtk1crXFdI~VK2UEbnC4lFfg7HkmYHLnVCdRJaDubdqjTEzeQii9XomYVzr38qd2hYUiXIk7WAK4WAg-3vGxgyT1P0O04ECHv-yIb8SwGKJkI6xQR-7cO4tJc66y~NkCWagkqTJP27d3ugSkc8BpO8twfPxqAuVrioanaQJJy5WQ-2b0BxL2r~gRM16nXo78yMjX782LsoTv19XM89KVsUvnJQydKJoFn8Fg-pFAbHk4xtSx1EeA-wc6B3HQ3hykGZU8Sdr43mYFtAy2kEzx4pJLlz-RdznT8q2x-9H8dO7ZBdOnnyV28kIWtQ3yQMJTloU-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 1 special meeting, the Fairfield Township administrator presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 tax budget and asked trustees to send it to the county auditor’s office for certification. The administrator summarized the figures: “we're estimating that we're gonna get $19,828,498. And on the expenditure side, we're estimating that we'll spend $23,242,824, which leaves us with a carryover balance of $6,779,113.54.”

After discussion, Trustee Burding, Trustee Harkemeyer and Trustee Mcabee voted to adopt Resolution 25-103, the township’s fiscal year 2026 tax budget. Miss Schulz, the fiscal officer, had earlier explained accounting practices and encumbrances that affect reported balances.

Trustees then debated whether to place additional levies on the ballot to shore up police, fire and road funding. The administration presented three illustrative levy options: a 2.9-mill fire levy (projected to raise $2,307,516; cost about $102 per $100,000 of assessed value), a 3.9-mill option (projected $3,103,211; about $137 per $100,000) and a 4.9-mill option (projected $3,898,906; about $172 per $100,000). No trustee moved any of the levy resolutions (25-107, 25-108, 25-109), and each “died for lack of action.”

Trustees expressed differing views on timing and alternatives. Trustee Mcabee argued trustees should seek voter input but “we put it on the ballot, something like, 1 mill for police, 2 mills for fire, and a half or 4 tenths of a mill for road” and suggested a limited multi-year levy could be paired with “some significant cuts.” Several trustees said they preferred first demonstrating internal cost reductions before asking residents for new levies. Trustee Harkemeyer said the township’s general fund is “very healthy” and that staff should be given time to “really look at things” and identify savings, noting money in development-related funds that could be used in the short term.

Resident Brett Rose urged trustees to let voters decide and suggested private crowdfunding and sponsorships as alternatives to cuts: “If it does mean put it on the ballot and let us decide, and in the meantime, work on cuts to show fiscal responsibility, I'm all for that.”

The board adopted several other resolutions during the meeting: Resolution 25-104 (authorizing a payment to SWOKA not to exceed $20,115.52), Resolution 25-105 (authorize short-term disability and life/AD&D contract renewal with Standard Company with no rate increase), and Resolution 25-106 (authorize salt contract with the Butler County Engineer at an increased unit price). The trustees also approved a motion to cancel the July 8 regular meeting.

Why this matters: The adopted tax budget sets the township’s revenue and spending expectations to be certified by the county auditor and frames decisions about whether to seek voter-approved levies. Trustees signaled a preference to prioritize internal savings and use available reserves before pursuing new taxes, while also recognizing potential future needs for additional revenue.","Trustees adopted a tax budget estimating 2026 revenues and expenditures, debated possible fire, police and road levies (three levy proposals failed for lack of motion), and emphasized looking for internal cuts and using reserves before asking taxpayers for more.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181128,"Fairfield Township trustees consider cutting local events, push for sponsorships to cover overtime",1728,112000,1840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113561-89ece931470a2ccc84e22296c9466c19&start=112&end=1840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113561-89ece931470a2ccc84e22296c9466c19/thumbnail_112000.jpg","/articles/6181128/Ohio/Fairfield-Township-trustees-consider-cutting-local-events-push-for-sponsorships-to-cover-overtime","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181128-72e9aacf2fb17f91ca5e97617b9854bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771058032&Signature=lUrAb4pF-9Q5sgeRRoE8DkcxFKejEG2qj6NiwtxgEhOCFT-i7c85Tw~-J2XCkRVa8fYvewBMlvVXD5KdbxnBbCp~XBOgwpXb7oAxxFsPB3sVsit0DfGl8euJ8ByV8GC5Yd-3O3HcygDPSA4KiOWd2zxcykRAU8tARlDLiXN9O4lFN2ZtxT7Fx5KR6fz~pmoohB2~1KU33PzTfpscAr-Y3QHWqdVpAedXABX6e1jPoJZtqfUndxVPvFsrSDGb3CdMZgF~YUquMxBTuY3Ww9W1KEvXy1pRFDmt6SdMzzOAGgj0qyr1CFBXxZwp7fCc10hGnxPOA1fxd8Hp2MGjCWV37A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miss Lefensee, a township staff member, opened a board discussion on special events as trustees prepared the 2026 budget, detailing last year’s event spending and revenues and saying, “Yeah. So in total, we spent $82,970. And like I said, we received 22,000 in donations.”

The figures prompted trustees to weigh cuts and alternative funding. Trustee Mcabee said commissioners should “cut back on some of the events” and recommended starting with overtime reductions: “Trying to cut back on the overtime, I think, would be the easiest place to start.” She also suggested eliminating the township-run Halloween event because nearby churches and businesses host similar activities.

Several trustees and staff focused on Patriot’s Day and the Touch a Truck safety fair because they carry the largest costs. Miss Lefensee said Touch a Truck cost about $10,818.68 last year with roughly $3,000 in associated overtime, and that Patriot’s Day spending totaled about $41,152.60 with “almost $6,000” in overtime. Trustee Mcabee said she had secured a stage “for a thousand dollars” and proposed capping township spending at $10,000 and using donations or sponsorships for the remainder. She said, “We can just try to get some more donations. Maybe put a cap at $10,000.”

Trustees asked staff to return with narrow cost projections and sponsorship commitments. Miss Lopinski and other staff agreed to produce numbers for what the events would cost if staffed only by on-duty personnel or with a reduced employee presence; Miss Lopinski said staff would “definitely discuss that in the next 7 to 10 days, get that information to the trustees.” The board asked that projected sponsorship commitments and any firefighter-union fundraisers be provided in writing so trustees could decide whether to proceed without drawing on township general funds.

Public comment stressed the value of local safety services and community events. Resident Brett Rose, a retired firefighter, urged trustees not to cut core emergency services and suggested crowdfunding and private sponsorships as an alternative: “If it does mean put it on the ballot and let us decide, and in the meantime, work on cuts to show fiscal responsibility, I’m all for that. But I’m not for cutting our safety services.”

Discussion also touched on the spring cleanup and tree-lighting events. Trustees flagged that some events, such as spring cleanup, might be made semiannual or reduced in scale; others—Village tree lighting—were criticized for poor coordination and could be eliminated if local partners do not improve planning.

The trustees did not adopt a formal resolution to cancel any events during the meeting. Instead, the board directed staff to: compile sponsorship and projected-cost figures for upcoming events (Patriot’s Day and Touch a Truck) within about 7–10 days; provide documentation of donations already pledged; and model costs if events were run with only on-duty personnel or with reduced overtime. Those directions were framed as preparatory steps before any formal changes to the 2026 budget or event schedule.

Why this matters: Special events carry both community value and measurable costs. Trustees are balancing resident expectations and the township’s budgetary constraints; the decision will affect 2026 budget planning and whether events rely on township funds, sponsorships or volunteer organizations.","Trustees discussed reducing or suspending several municipal special events to trim overtime and supply costs, and asked staff to gather sponsorship and projected-cost figures for upcoming Touch a Truck and Patriot’s Day events within 7–10 days.","actionData","errors"]

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Trustees press transportation district on Princeton Road roundabout; urge public comment

Fairfield Township trustees adopt 2026 tax budget; debate levies and urge internal cuts before new taxes

Fairfield Township trustees consider cutting local events, push for sponsorships to cover overtime