FARMINGTON — Township trustees at their meeting this week took the first step to place a 2.9-mill additional fire operating levy on the May primary ballot after a tie vote in the November general election resulted in its defeat.

Township Fiscal Officer Angelo Bizzarro said trustees took the initial first reading to get the levy on the ballot and will give a second reading at their next meeting in January.

He said the deadline to place an issue on the May primary ballot is Feb. 6.

Bizzarro said the levy is the same levy that was defeated in November and covers costs for day-to-day operations and needs of the department, including staffing and equipment. He said trustees plan to promote the need for passage of the fire levy more before the primary election.

Bizzarro said the tie vote in November shows that every vote does count and can make a difference.

“We will promote the need for the levy and encourage our voters to support it,” he said.

On election night, it was reported by the Trumbull County Board of Elections that the levy had passed 152-151, but a recount showed it tied at 152-152 after one provisional ballot was counted. The board of elections has since certified the defeat.

Fire Chief Jonathan Bland said if the levy passed, it would have cost the owner of a home appraised at $100,000 an additional $102 per year. Funds from the levy would have been offset by older levies from 1982, 1983 and 1986 expiring.

With the elimination of the three old levies, the new 2.9-mill levy would have raised $126,998 per year in new money, which is about $55,000 more than the three levies combined.

The department has 25 part-time firefighters cross-trained as either emergency medical technicians or paramedics.

Bizzarro said a swearing in ceremony for new trustees and reelected trustees from Farmington, Bristol and Mesopotamia townships and West Farmington village will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Farmington Senior Center.

In Farmington, James Soltis was elected in November as a new trustee, replacing Mike Davis who chose to not run for reelection.