Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hebron council weighs larger police levy and formalizing lateral transfers
Summary
Council members discussed the scale of a potential police levy to better fund the department and considered making officer lateral transfers a standard hiring option. Fiscal Officer Deborah Morgan provided millage scenarios and revenue estimates to guide public outreach and next steps.
Hebron, Ohio — Council members at the Village of Hebron combined committees meeting on March 20 discussed options for funding the police department and standardizing hiring practices for officers.
Police Committee Chair Andrea Chapman said the committee reviewed a successful recent lateral transfer for an officer and will add an agenda item to consider making lateral transfers a standard pathway for new hires. "It seemed to work out," Chapman said, describing the discussion that led to proposing a formal policy.
Fiscal Officer Deborah Morgan presented levy math that framed the funding conversation. She said a renewal at the historical 5-mill level would generate about $644,000 and would cost homeowners roughly $175 annually per $100,000 in market value. Morgan told council the police budget is "a little over $1.3 million," and that covering it entirely via levy would require about 10.73 mills — approximately $378 per $100,000 in home value. She also modeled a renewal with an additional 2 mills (roughly 7 mills total), which she estimated would yield $902,206 and cost taxpayers about $245 annually per $100,000 in home value.
Mayor Valerie Mockus and other council members said the public will need clear communication about what levy revenue would fund. "The public will need to be informed of what the funds are for," Councilmember Annelle Porter said, emphasizing transparency in outreach.
Morgan noted past timing challenges: previous attempts to place a police levy on the ballot competed with school and fire district levies, which influenced council decisions in prior years.
Next steps: The Police Committee has added items for future council agendas to discuss formalizing lateral transfers and to refine levy proposals and public information plans. No formal levy resolution or vote was taken at the March 20 meeting.
