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Board reviews community profile; discusses ballot timing and likely costs for a levy
Summary
Board members reviewed updated population, income and housing data for Berkshire Township, Galena and Sunbury City and discussed options, timelines and estimated costs for placing a levy or other measure on a future ballot.
Board members reviewed updated community profiles and demographic data for the three jurisdictions in the Joint Recreation District and discussed the timing, turnout and likely costs of placing a levy or ballot measure before voters.
Staff said it pulled “the community profiles that are on the Delaware County Regional Planning District or Commission's, website” and summarized population estimates: Berkshire Township about 7,500 residents, Galena about 1,650 and Sunbury about 7,900. Staff called out median ages and income differences — Sunbury had the youngest median age at just over 33 and Berkshire the oldest at about 38 — and noted median household income ranged from roughly $92,000 in Sunbury to about $136,000 in Berkshire.
The staff member reported median home values from the planning commission profiles: Sunbury approximately $440,000, Berkshire about $500,000 and Galena around $480,000. The board discussed housing growth since the last district vote and was told at least one-third of housing units in each jurisdiction were built after the prior 2007 vote: about 33% in Berkshire, roughly 35% in Galena and just under 35% in Sunbury, indicating a substantially different electorate than in 2007.
Board members then discussed election timing, turnout and costs. Staff explained jurisdictions can choose whether to target a primary or general-election ballot and cautioned there are cost differences depending on what other offices or measures share the ballot. As staff put it, “There are some cost considerations depending on what else is on the ballot in the different precincts,” and noted that election paperwork must be completed well in advance: “there are election proceedings that have to be undergone 90 days in advance, to certify any potential levy for the ballot.”
When asked for a ballpark figure for consultant or legal support for election proceedings, staff estimated work to prepare certifications and related legal services commonly runs in the low tens of thousands of dollars, with a typical range “probably 10 to 20,000, probably closer to 10,000,” though the precise cost depends on the complexity of the proceedings. Staff also told members that political subdivisions can budget for those consulting and legal fees and that donations are acceptable as a funding source for a governmental entity, while the cooperative agreement among Sunbury, Galena and Berkshire would likely be the primary source for initial annual legal fees.
The board discussed strategic timing: placing a measure on a May (primary/spring) ballot versus a November general election could affect turnout and cost-sharing among jurisdictions. Staff said if the district aims for the May ballot, election paperwork likely should be prepared toward the end of the calendar year; a November target would mean assembling materials the following summer.
No formal action to place a measure on a ballot was taken; board members asked staff to gather turnout and election-cost data for multiple election years for comparison and to provide names of finance directors for participating jurisdictions to coordinate budgeting.
