Bellbrook councilman says proposed public-safety levy needed to avoid cuts, warns SROs could be lost if it fails

Logan Ashley, a Bellbrook city councilman and chair of the city's public safety committee, addressed the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Board of Education during the Oct. 9 public-comment period to explain a proposed municipal public-safety levy and to describe possible effects on school services if the levy fails.

Ashley said the city faces an approximately $600,000 shortfall in its public-safety fund and is proposing a 2.2-mill levy that he said would generate about $610,000 per year. He provided household examples: for a homeowner with a $100,000 home valuation, the levy would cost roughly $77 a year (about $6.14 per month).

The councilman emphasized that the levy is intended to preserve existing staffing and services. He described possible consequences if voters reject the levy: the city would cut about $600,000 from its budget, which Ashley said would require the elimination of two firefighter-paramedic positions and three police officers, reductions in capital street and infrastructure projects, and the potential loss of school resource officers serving Bell Creek Intermediate and Stephen Bell.

Why he spoke to the board: Ashley framed the levy as protecting student safety and preserving positive law-enforcement engagement with youth; he characterized the school resource officer (SRO) role as both safety and mentorship. He said the levy funds would go into a restricted public-safety fund and stressed that the city has not raised taxes since 2009.

Board response and next steps: the remarks were delivered during public comment; the board did not take formal action on the levy during the meeting. School staff and trustees listened as Ashley urged community support and noted intergovernmental consequences if the levy fails.