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KINSMAN -- Township trustees plan to meet later this month to see where cuts will need to be made and what fees need to be added following the Nov. 7 defeat of an additional operating levy that would have raised $60,000 annually for the general fund.
Trustees at their meeting Monday set a work session for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 to discuss what steps to take after the 1.5-mill, five-year additional levy was defeated 53% to 47%, according to unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
Trustee Vice Chairman Greg Leonhard said the levy lost by 38 votes.
"We will have to look at making cuts in the general fund and determine where," Leonhard said.
He said he is not in favor of putting the levy back on the ballot.
"When something fails, I personally do not feel we should keep putting it back on again," he said.
He said the general fund provides money for parks, zoning, legal fees and mosquito spraying. Leonhard said the levy does not cover police, fire / emergency medical service and roads.
Leonhard said if a grant can't be obtained from the Trumbull County Combined Health District to cover costs, the mosquito spraying likely will be cut.
Leonhard said the American Rescue Plan funds have "helped the township stay afloat" in recent years because the cost of electric and gas, as well as other expenses, have gone up.
Leonhard said the township may need to charge for the park or other areas.
In addition to the work session Nov. 30, trustees will meet at 5 p.m. in executive session to interview three applicants for a road department position.
Also, trustees announced a fundraiser is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Times Square Restaurant to help raise money for the annual Shop with a Cop program.