Council hears plan to renew police and fire pension levy as fixed‑dollar measure to shore up reserves

City finance staff recommended sending a replacement police and fire pension levy to voters that would set a fixed dollar amount to fund pension obligations and preserve reserves, Finance Director Lewis told council on April 20.

Lewis said Ohio law requires employer pension contributions roughly equal to 19.5% of police gross pay and 24% for fire, and that the city currently funds those obligations with two permanent levies (0.6 mills total) plus a voter‑approved levy whose collection is designed to reach a set dollar amount. "We're proposing a decrease in the voted millage from 0.89 mils to 0.75 mils," Lewis said, noting that because the proposal is a fixed‑dollar voted levy, it would actually increase annual revenue the city receives on a five‑year projection from roughly $1.5 million to about $2.17 million.

Lewis explained the rationale: a fixed dollar approach provides greater near‑term revenue certainty to meet rising pension costs and maintain a roughly one‑year reserve buffer that gives the city flexibility if assumptions change. He warned that if the levy lapses the state 'rollback' subsidy that covers roughly 10% of collections for this levy would no longer apply to any future new levy and taxpayers could shoulder more of the cost.

Council members pressed for clarifications. One asked what constitutes "gross income" for contribution calculations; Lewis said employer contributions are based on pensionable gross wages. Others asked how the proposal accounts for potential state legislation that could increase employer contribution rates; Lewis said the model did not bake in a pending state increase but that reserves would provide some buffer, and staff presented a five‑year scenario showing early surpluses and later lean years under current assumptions.

On outreach and timing, staff said they plan standard informational efforts (mailed brochure to households, UA Insight newsletter, social media) but will emphasize more short video content and digital outreach given competing ballot items in the same cycle. Staff proposed certifying ballot language in June to meet county deadlines; if the levy does not pass this year it could be placed on the November 2026 ballot.

What’s next: staff will return with formal resolution language in early May to certify the amount and ballot timing; council asked for continued modeling if state legislation changes contribution calculations.

Vote/action: No levy vote occurred at this meeting; staff will present a resolution and ballot language for council action in May and June.