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