Vote YES — Baughman Township Fire & EMS Levy

"The Township Has Money — They Don't Need More"

Official township records tell a different story.

The general fund has operated at a deficit every single year since 2020 — based on official township records. The 2026 budget projects the fund balance dropping from $360,846 to $213,346. Fire contracts currently cost $180,000/year and will increase. The general fund simply cannot sustain this.

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What Do the Negative (–) Numbers Mean? Each negative number shows how much the township spent beyond what it collected that year — money it had to take out of its savings to cover the shortfall. Think of it like a personal checking account: if you earn $50,000 but spend $52,000, you're $2,000 in the red and your savings shrinks by that amount. The township has been doing this every single year for six years.

For example, in 2022 the township spent $187,061 more than it received in tax revenue. That $187,061 had to come from the savings balance already in the account. Each year that continues, the account gets smaller — until eventually there's nothing left to draw from.

2020

Revenue$148,000

Expenses$295,639

Net Deficit–$147,639

🔥 Fire Cost$90,146

2021

Revenue$125,348

Expenses$281,777

Net Deficit–$156,429

🔥 Fire Cost$91,500

2022

Revenue$120,252

Expenses$307,312

Net Deficit–$187,061

🔥 Fire Cost$90,920

2023

Revenue$229,355

Expenses$340,524

Net Deficit–$111,168

🔥 Fire Cost$90,920

2024

Revenue$151,474

Expenses$218,322

Net Deficit–$66,848

🔥 Fire Cost$95,713

2025

Revenue$164,429

Expenses$231,138

Net Deficit–$66,709

🔥 Fire Cost$116,200

Source: Official Baughman Township trustee presentation, February 2026. Six consecutive years of deficit spending from the general fund.

Savings Balance Today $360,846 General fund balance right now

Projected After 2026 $213,346 ~$147K drained in one year

Annual Fire Contract Cost $180,000 Rising to $198K by Year 3

⚠️ The math in plain English: After 2026, the projected savings balance is $213,346. The fire contract alone costs $180,000/year — and is increasing. At that pace, the fund could be effectively empty within 1–2 years, leaving no money to pay for fire and EMS service at all.

Township	Total Tax Rate	Fire Levy	Annual Fire Revenue	vs. Baughman
Baughman — CURRENT	2.4 mills	0 mills	$0	—
Baughman — If Levy Passes ✓	4.15 mills	1.75 mills	~$195,049	LOWEST in County
Sugar Creek Township	8.1–8.7 mills	2.9–3.5 mills	$440,600+	2× Baughman
Green - Central Fire District	7.1 mills	4.0 mills	$1,053,500	2.3× Baughman
Chippewa Township	9.1 mills	5.0 mills	$958,900	2.9× Baughman
Milton Township	9.35 mills	5.0 mills	$400,700	2.9× Baughman

Source: Official Baughman Township February 2026 trustee presentation. Wayne County fire levies range from 2 to 6.75 mills.

"I Already Pay Enough — This Costs Too Much"

Here's what 1.75 mills actually means for your household.

Home Market Value	Per Year	Per Month	Per Day
$75,000	$46	$3.83	13¢
$100,000	$61	$5.10	17¢
$130,000 ⭐ Avg. Baughman Home	$80	$6.60	22¢
$150,000	$92	$7.66	25¢
$175,000	$107	$8.93	29¢
$200,000	$123	$10.21	34¢
$250,000	$153	$12.77	42¢

Formula: Home Value × 35% × 1.75 ÷ 1,000 = Annual cost. Ohio taxes on 35% of appraised value. Agricultural land taxed at lower CAUV rate — contact Wayne County Auditor. First payment not due until 2027.

✓ Levy Passes

Avg. Baughman household pays $6.60/month for guaranteed fire and EMS coverage all year. All three departments continue responding.

✗ One Ambulance Call

Without contracted coverage, a single ambulance transport can cost $500–$3,500+ out of pocket. Ohio has no law capping ground ambulance billing.

✗ One Structure Fire

A delayed response without a contract can add $10,000–$50,000+ in preventable fire damage — costs your insurance may only partially cover.

Note: Medicare covers 80% of approved EMS amounts — leaving 20% plus deductible out-of-pocket. The federal No Surprises Act does not cover ground ambulance transport. Homeowners insurance typically covers only $500–$2,500 in fire department service charges.

"What Actually Happens If the Levy Fails?"

Ohio law is clear — and the answer may surprise you.

Is the township legally required to provide fire or EMS coverage?

No. Ohio Attorney General Opinion No. 94-067 is explicit: "A township is not required to provide fire or rescue services." If funding runs out, the township has zero legal obligation to maintain coverage. Orrville Fire, Marshallville Fire, and North Lawrence Fire are not obligated to respond to Baughman Township calls without a funded contract in place. There are currently no confirmed subscription or per-call billing alternatives offered by any of the three departments.

FINANCIAL REALITY — NOT A THREAT

⚠️

This Is Not a Scare Tactic. The Money Will Not Be There in 2027.

When township trustees say fire and EMS service is at risk, they are not issuing a threat to pressure voters. They are reporting a hard arithmetic fact that can be verified in the official budget records. This is not a negotiating position — it is a closing bank account.

Projected Fund Balance After 2026

$213,346

That is all the savings left

Annual Fire Contract Cost (Rising)

$180,000+

Reaches ~$198K by contract Year 3

Why did this happen? A key financial pillar that quietly supported the township for decades has permanently collapsed:

Ohio Estate Tax — Gone Forever

Ohio's estate tax was repealed effective January 1, 2013. For decades it sent tens of thousands — sometimes over $100,000 in a single year — into the General Fund. That revenue is permanently eliminated under Ohio law. It is not coming back. Every budget written assuming that income would continue has now run a deficit.

🔢 The Simple Math: $213,346 remaining ÷ $180,000/year fire contract = just over one year of coverage. Without a levy, the fund is effectively exhausted in 2027. At that point the township has no legal obligation — and no financial ability — to maintain fire and EMS contracts. The cuts are not a threat. They are the default outcome if nothing changes.

🚒 If the Levy Fails

The general fund — already running deficits every year — will continue to be drained by fire contracts it cannot afford. When the money runs out, no department is legally required to respond. You call 911 and hope a neighboring community can reach you in time. There is no backup plan confirmed.

✅ If the Levy Passes

All three contracted departments — Orrville, Marshallville, and North Lawrence — receive stable, dedicated funding through 2031. The general fund is freed from fire spending. Your ISO insurance ratings are protected. And you have a legal guarantee of response.

Emergency Type	✓ With Levy (contracted)	✗ Without Levy
BLS Ambulance Transport	No direct charge to resident	$500 – $2,000+
ALS Ambulance Transport	No direct charge to resident	$850 – $3,500+
Transport Mileage (to Wooster, ~12 mi)	Included	$120 – $600 additional
Fire Response (minimum)	No direct charge to resident	$1,500+
Structure Fire Response	No direct charge to resident	$10,000 – $20,000+
Unpaid Bill Consequence	N/A	Lien on property or wage garnishment

How to Cast Your Vote

Three easy ways — no excuse required for early voting in Ohio.

📋 First — Are You Registered? The deadline to register to vote is April 6, 2026. Early voting begins the very next day. If you're not registered by April 6, you cannot vote in this election. Check your registration at ohiosos.gov.

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Election Day

Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Polls open 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM at your regular polling location. Check your voter registration card for your assigned precinct.

Must vote at your assigned precinct

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Early In-Person

April 7 – May 3 at Wayne County Board of Elections, 200 Vanover St Suite 1, Wooster. Bring a valid photo ID. No appointment needed.

📞 330-287-5480

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Absentee by Mail

Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot — no reason required. Request deadline: April 28 by 8:30 PM. Your completed ballot must physically arrive at the Wayne Co. BOE by 7:30 PM on May 5 — a postmark is no longer sufficient under Ohio law.

Request from Wayne Co. BOE

⚠️ NEW OHIO LAW — Important Change for 2026: Ohio Senate Bill 293 (effective March 20, 2026) eliminates the previous 4-day grace period for mail-in ballots. Your absentee ballot must now physically arrive at the Wayne County Board of Elections before polls close at 7:30 PM on May 5 — a postmark alone will no longer count. Mail your ballot as early as possible, or use the secure drop box at the BOE, or hand-deliver it by 7:30 PM May 5. Do not wait until the last day to mail it — postal delays could disqualify your vote.

💡 Pro Tip: To ensure timely processing, request your ballot by April 25, and avoid mailing your completed ballot after April 28 due to potential mail delays. You can also drop your completed ballot off in person at your county Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on May 5.

🗳️ Check your voter registration, request an absentee ballot, find your polling location, and more:
www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters — Ohio Secretary of State official voter resources.

⚠️ Confirm hours with Wayne County Board of Elections: 330-287-5480 or waynecountyoh.gov/boe — schedules are subject to change.

Baughman Township District Map

36 sq. miles · Two precincts · Wayne County, Ohio — Official GIS Fire Coverage Map

Fire Coverage Area · Official GIS Map

Precinct Ba-1 — Rural Core / Dalton LSD (north & east)

Precinct Ba-2 — Marshallville Area (south & west)

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Contracted fire dept. — all 3 currently serve Baughman Twp.

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Wayne Co. BOE, Wooster — early voting April 8–May 5

📍 Precinct Ba-1 — Rural Core / Dalton LSD

Northern and eastern portions of the township, including addresses along Burkhart Road and Church Road. Served primarily by the Dalton Local School District.

42.5% November 2025 voter turnout — highest in township

📍 Precinct Ba-2 — Marshallville Area

Southern and western portions including Marshallville Village and rural areas along Back Massillon Road, Fosnight Road, and Fulton Road.

37.9% November 2025 voter turnout

⚠️ Map boundaries and road positions are approximate for reference only. Verify your precinct with the Wayne County Board of Elections at 330-287-5480.

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Baughman Township Precinct Map

Official district boundaries — Precinct 1 (south) & Precinct 2 (north)

Baughman Township Precinct District Map showing Precinct 1 and Precinct 2 boundaries

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Not Sure If You're in Baughman Township?

Your mailing address city is NOT the same as your township — many Orrville and Marshallville addresses are actually inside Baughman Township

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Common misconception: Many rural Wayne County residents believe that because their mailing address says "Orrville, OH" or "Marshallville, OH," they live in that city or village. That is often not the case. The U.S. Postal Service assigns mailing cities based on the nearest post office — not your political township boundary. Hundreds of Baughman Township residents have an Orrville or Marshallville mailing address but are legally and politically residents of unincorporated Baughman Township.

📮 "Orrville, OH" Mailing Address

Roads like Burkhart Rd, Church Rd, Carr Rd, Geiser Rd, and Moser Rd west of Orrville city limits carry an Orrville mailing address — but are in Baughman Township

Orrville city limits end roughly at the eastern edge of the township. Rural properties just west of that line get Orrville mail but pay Baughman Township taxes

📮 "Marshallville, OH" Mailing Address

Back Massillon Rd, Fosnight Rd, Fulton Rd, and SR 57 rural addresses near Marshallville often carry a Marshallville mailing address but lie in Baughman Township

Marshallville village itself is a small incorporated area — properties just outside those village limits on rural roads are in the township, not the village

The Marshallville Fire Department is physically near the township — but township residents are not automatically covered by the village fire district

🔍 How to Check Your Township at the Wayne County Auditor's Website

1

Go to waynecountyauditor.org and click "Search" in the upper right corner of the page

2

Enter your name, street address, or any part of your address in the search bar and press Search

3

Click your property from the results to open the full parcel record

4

Check your property record and look for "Baughman" listed as your taxing district to confirm you are in Baughman Township

The Wayne County Auditor's website is the official, authoritative source for your parcel and township. It's free, public, and takes about 60 seconds to check.

🔗 Search Your Parcel at waynecountyauditor.org →

🚨 "My Address Says Orrville / Marshallville — So Their Fire Dept. Covers Me, Right?"

If You're in Baughman Township with an Orrville Address

Having an Orrville mailing address does not mean you are covered by Orrville Fire Department's city service. Orrville Fire serves the City of Orrville. If you are in unincorporated Baughman Township, your fire coverage depends entirely on Baughman Township's contracted agreements — and Orrville has already stated it will not respond to township calls without a funded contract.

If You're in Baughman Township with a Marshallville Address

Marshallville village has its own small fire district for incorporated village residents. If you live on a rural road outside the village limits — even with a Marshallville mailing address — you are not in the village fire district. Your coverage comes from Baughman Township's contracts. If the levy fails, no department has a legal obligation to respond to your address.

The bottom line: Your mailing city is just where your post office is. Your fire and EMS coverage is determined by your township boundary. Check the Wayne County Auditor's website to confirm your taxing district. Don't assume someone else's fire department is covering you. Check your parcel. Know your township.

"Why Does the Township Suddenly Need Money?" — The Full Story

A one-time estate tax windfall that is now gone. The math finally caught up.

For years, Baughman Township residents paid remarkably little for fire protection compared to every neighboring township. That wasn't good management — it was an accident of history. A steady stream of estate tax revenue that Ohio has since repealed kept costs artificially low. That advantage is now gone. The bill has come due.

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The Estate Tax "Piggy Bank" — Gone

The Root Cause · Ohio Repealed 2013

Ohio's estate tax — a tax on inherited wealth above a threshold, paid by estates of deceased residents — was a significant and unpredictable source of township revenue for decades. Townships and counties received a share of estate tax collections from residents who died in their jurisdiction.

In Wayne County generally, and in Baughman Township specifically, estate tax windfalls periodically padded the General Fund with tens of thousands — or in strong years, over $100,000 — in one-time revenue. Township budgets were written with the expectation that this money would continue flowing.

Ohio repealed the estate tax effective January 1, 2013. The last payments trickled in through the mid-2010s as estates settled. By the late 2010s, the pipeline had fully dried up — and the General Fund deficits that began in 2020 are directly traceable to life without that revenue cushion.

Bottom line: The "piggy bank" funded years of below-levy operations. Ohio took the piggy bank away in 2013. The township spent the next decade slowly drawing down the savings — and now they are gone.

📉 Estate Tax Revenue to Baughman Township General Fund — Estimated Timeline REPEALED BY OHIO — EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 2013

Pre-2008

Strong / Variable

2008–2011

Moderate

2012

Last full year

2013–2016

Tail-off only

2017–2019

~$0

2020–Now

$0 — Gone

🔴 With no estate tax revenue, the General Fund has run deficits every year since 2020 — totaling over $735,000 in cumulative deficit spending.

⚖️ Why the Numbers Worked Before — and Why They Don't Now

Then (Pre-2013) — The "Free Ride" Era

Estate tax revenue padded the General Fund annually with unpredictable but substantial windfalls

Township could cover fire costs from General Fund and still show a surplus in good years

No dedicated fire levy seemed necessary — costs appeared manageable

Savings accumulated from estate tax years acted as a buffer against lean years

Now (2020–Present) — The Reckoning

Estate tax gone since 2013 — no windfalls, ever again, under current Ohio law

Fire contracts corrected to market rates — $180,000/yr now, rising to $198,000 by 2028

General Fund runs deficit every year — six consecutive years, $735,000+ cumulative

Savings buffer from the estate tax era fully depleted — fund balance dropping fast

One department demanding renegotiation — per-call billing could exceed $300,000/yr

💬 Plain English: What This Means for You

Baughman Township didn't suddenly need a fire levy because of mismanagement or reckless spending. The township operated for years on a key artificial advantage: a state estate tax that sent regular windfalls to the General Fund.

That advantage is gone now — eliminated by the Ohio legislature in 2013. The township spent roughly a decade drawing down the savings those windfalls created. That buffer is now exhausted.

The levy isn't a request for more money than the township needs. It's a request for a stable, honest source of funding for a service the township has always depended on — but has never had to pay the real price for until now. Every other township in Wayne County already pays this levy. Baughman is simply being asked to catch up to what everyone else has been doing for years.

"Someone Will Still Come" — Why That's Not True

All three contracted departments have stated or signaled they will not respond without a funded contract.

🚒

Orrville Fire Department

~5 miles east · Contract: ~$60,000/yr

⛔ Confirmed — Will Not Respond

Orrville Fire has explicitly stated it will not respond to Baughman Township calls if the levy fails and their contract is not renewed. This is not speculation — it is a direct position communicated to township officials.

Without a funded contract, Orrville has no obligation — legal or financial — to staff ladder trucks, paramedics, or rapid intervention teams for township calls. Their resources and crews serve their own city first.

Orrville Fire has indicated it will not honor calls into Baughman Township without a funded contract in place. — Township officials, February 2026 presentation

🚒

Marshallville Fire Department

Located within township · Contract: ~$60,000/yr

⚠️ Very Likely — Will Not Respond

Marshallville Fire operates as a volunteer department with limited staffing and resources. Their current contract provides dedicated daytime coverage — ice rescue, tanker, and paramedics — funded by the levy arrangement.

Without contract funding, Marshallville has no financial basis to sustain township-wide coverage. A small volunteer department cannot absorb the cost of serving 36 square miles for free — even though they are physically located inside the township.

Being located nearby does not mean they are legally required to respond. Ohio law is clear: no department is obligated without a contract or agreement.

🚒

North Lawrence Fire Department

~8 miles east · Contract: ~$60,000/yr · 24/7 staffed

⚠️ Likely — Will Not Respond

North Lawrence currently provides 24/7 staffed coverage — the most reliable around-the-clock response of the three departments. Their contract is the backbone of overnight fire protection for the township.

One of the three contracted departments has already indicated the flat-rate contract structure must be renegotiated and new contracts are contingent on levy passage. Industry-standard per-call billing ($1,100/call) would replace the flat rate — making routine coverage financially unsustainable without dedicated levy funding.

Without the levy, North Lawrence has no mechanism to absorb township calls into their budget, and their primary obligation is to their own district.

🚨 "Won't Mutual Aid Cover Us?" — No. Here's Why.

Many residents assume that even without contracts, neighboring departments will respond through mutual aid. This is a dangerous misconception. Mutual aid is a supplemental system for overwhelming incidents — not a substitute for contracted primary coverage.

❌ The Myth

Mutual aid will cover routine 911 calls if contracts lapse

Neighboring departments are required to respond to any call

Mutual aid is free and has no billing implications

Response times under mutual aid are similar to contracted coverage

Mutual aid departments carry the same equipment as contracted depts.

✓ The Reality

Mutual aid is for disasters and backup — not primary service coverage

No Ohio department is legally required to respond without a contract (AG Op. 94-067)

Per-call billing can reach $1,100–$3,500+ with no legal cap

Mutual aid response averages 15–30+ minutes longer in rural areas

Mutual aid deploys whatever is available — not the right equipment for your emergency

IF THE LEVY FAILS — WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

May 5, 2026 — Levy Fails

No new dedicated fire revenue. The General Fund — already running deficits every year since 2020 — becomes the only source of fire and EMS funding.

Summer–Fall 2026

Township must renegotiate contracts with all three departments. Orrville has already said no. Marshallville and North Lawrence face pressure to shift to per-call billing at ~$1,100/call. No new contracts can be finalized without funding.

Late 2026 / Early 2027 — Critical Window

General Fund balance projected to fall below safe operating levels. The township may be unable to meet contract obligations. Departments begin declining calls or billing residents directly.

2027 and Beyond — No Guaranteed Coverage

You call 911. There is no legal obligation for any department to respond. A neighbor's mutual aid call — if it comes at all — may arrive 15–30 minutes after a fire that needed a 4-minute response to save the structure. EMS bills arrive with no cap and can be liened to your property.

See Exactly What You'd Pay — Real Parcel Example

Wayne County Auditor · Parcel 04-00480.056 · Baughman Township

This is an example property record from the Wayne County Auditor's office for a real Baughman Township parcel. It shows exactly how the Fire & EMS levy tax is calculated from your home's appraised value — and how to find your own number at waynecountyauditor.org.

Wayne County Auditor — Property Record

RUSSELL ROBERTSON, WAYNE COUNTY AUDITOR · WOOSTER, OHIO

Parcel 04-00480.056

🔗 waynecountyauditor.org →

Owner / Address Example Resident · Baughman Township, OH 44681

Township Baughman Twp. (04)

Class Residential (510)

Acres 1.84 ac

Appraised Land Value $18,400 County Auditor estimate

Appraised Building Value $117,500 Residential structure

        Total Appraised Value
        $135,900
        Market value estimate
      

        Assessed Value (35%)
        $47,565
        Taxable base · Ohio law
      

Current Tax Breakdown by Levy TAX YEAR 2025

Levy Description	Authority	Mills	Annual Tax
General Fund — County	Wayne County	3.100	$147.45
County Health District	Wayne County	0.900	$42.81
Children Services	Wayne County	1.400	$66.59
Senior Services	Wayne County	0.800	$38.05
Library — Wayne County Public	Wayne County	1.750	$83.24
Township General Fund	Baughman Twp.	2.400	$114.16
Township Road & Bridge	Baughman Twp.	1.000	$47.57
Dalton LSD — General	Dalton Local SD	11.900	$566.02
Dalton LSD — Bond	Dalton Local SD	2.670	$127.00
Dalton LSD — Emergency	Dalton Local SD	1.500	$71.35
Fire & EMS Levy (PROPOSED — on ballot May 5)	Baughman Twp.	1.750	$83.24
Total Annual Property Tax (if levy passes)		28.170	$1,387.48

🔥 How the Fire & EMS Levy Is Calculated

Ohio taxes property on 35% of appraised value — not the full market price.

Step 1: Appraised Value × 35% = Assessed Value
$135,900 × 35% = $47,565

Step 2: Assessed Value × Levy Rate ÷ 1,000 = Annual Tax
$47,565 × 1.75 ÷ 1,000 = $83.24/year

Step 3: Divide by 12 for monthly cost
$83.24 ÷ 12 = $6.94/month

$83.24 per year $6.94 / month
23¢ per day

📐 The Ohio Property Tax Formula

Appraised Value × 35%
= Assessed Value

Assessed Value × 1.75 ÷ 1,000
= Annual Fire Levy Cost

Why 35%? Ohio law (ORC § 5713.03) requires all real property to be assessed at 35% of its "true value" for tax purposes. This "assessed value" is the taxable base — not your full market value.

Agricultural land uses the CAUV (Current Agricultural Use Valuation) method, which typically results in a lower assessed value. Contact the Wayne County Auditor for your exact CAUV figure.

First payment: If the levy passes, the first tax bill including the Fire & EMS levy would not be due until 2027.

🔍

Find Your Exact Number at the Wayne County Auditor's Website

Every Baughman Township property owner can look up their own parcel and calculate their exact Fire & EMS levy cost in under 2 minutes.

1 Go to waynecountyauditor.org

2 Click "Search" — enter your name or address

3 Find your Appraised Value on your parcel page

4 Multiply: Value × 35% × 1.75 ÷ 1,000 = your cost

🔗 Search Your Parcel → waynecountyauditor.org

Common Questions & Concerns

Straightforward answers to the questions we hear most often from township residents.

🔒 The Levy "Lockbox" — Ohio Law Guarantees

Levy Money CAN Pay For

Fire dept. contracts (Orrville, Marshallville, North Lawrence)

EMS / paramedic service contracts

Fire equipment & apparatus

Emergency response training

Levy Money CANNOT Pay For

Lawsuits or attorney fees — ever

Road repairs or other services

Trustee or staff salaries

Any non-fire/EMS expense

Ohio Revised Code § 5705 — Violations subject to audit, full repayment, and personal financial liability for township officials. The State Auditor reviews these accounts annually.

Shouldn't I vote No to hold the trustees accountable for past decisions?

This is an understandable instinct — but it's important to know that voting No on a levy does not affect the trustees in any way. Trustees are held accountable at trustee elections — separate races at separate times. Voting No on this levy only removes fire and EMS funding from your township; the trustees remain in office regardless. Additionally, the current trustees were not in office when the 2018–2021 lawsuit decisions were made — those were made by a previous board. The current board inherited the financial situation and brought this levy forward to address it. Your fire protection and your trustee accountability are two completely separate decisions at two different elections.

If the trustees made bad decisions before, why should we trust them with levy money now?

Even setting aside the fact that the current trustees are different people from the prior board — this decision is structurally out of their hands. Once a fire/EMS levy passes, the money flows into a restricted fund governed entirely by state law. It goes directly to the contracted fire departments. Trustees cannot redirect it, borrow against it, or touch it for anything else. Even if you have zero confidence in the current board, the levy structure protects you regardless of who is sitting in those seats.

Can't the township just cut other spending and cover fire service without a new levy?

The general fund has run a deficit every single year since 2020, with fire protection alone consuming 51% of all general fund expenditures. Fire contracts cost $180,000/year today and will rise to $198,000 by Year 3. There is no spending elsewhere that could make up that gap. The fund balance is projected to fall from $360,846 to $213,346 after 2026 alone — and the math doesn't work without a dedicated revenue source.

Is this levy going to fund a new Baughman Township fire station or new fire trucks?

No — and the numbers make that impossible. The official Baughman Township website (baughmantownship.com → Fire/EMS, FAQ #7) is explicit: the trustees are committed to using levy funds exclusively to contract with the three existing local fire departments — Orrville, Marshallville, and North Lawrence. This commitment is written directly into the official Resolution to Proceed, which states the township will provide fire and EMS services "through contracts with local fire departments (municipal and/or private)."

Beyond the legal commitment, the math alone rules it out entirely. The 1.75-mill levy raises approximately $195,049 per year — which barely covers the minimum cost of the three existing fire department contracts. There is simply no money left over to even begin considering new construction or equipment. To put that in perspective:

🚑 One new ambulance: $750,000 or more
🚒 One new fire truck: $1,000,000 or more
🏛️ A new fire station building + staffing: Millions more on top of that
💰 This levy's total annual revenue: ~$195,049 — consumed entirely by existing service contracts

A single new ambulance alone would cost nearly four times what this levy raises in an entire year. Building a new fire department from scratch — land, structure, apparatus, and staff — would require many millions of dollars. This levy doesn't come close to covering even a fraction of that, and was never intended to. Its sole purpose is to maintain the fire and EMS service residents depend on today, through the three departments already serving the township.

📄 Official Legal Document

Read the Full Levy Text

This is the complete, official Resolution to Proceed — the exact legal language of the levy being placed on the May 5, 2026 ballot. Read every word for yourself.

📄 View the Full Levy Resolution →

Source: Official Baughman Township — Fire Levy 2026 Resolution to Proceed (PDF)

Get Involved — Help Pass the Levy

Your time and support make a real difference in keeping Baughman Township safe. Every contribution counts.

💛

Make a Donation

Campaign costs — printing, signs, mailers — add up. A contribution of any size helps us reach every voter in the township.

Checks payable to BT Fire EMS Levy 2026
Mail to: Noelle Ressler, 16865 Burkhart Road, Orrville, Ohio 44667
Questions? Call (330) 422-3525
Email: levyvote26@gmail.com

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Volunteer to Help

We need friendly neighbors to help spread the word. No experience required — just a desire to protect our community's fire and EMS service.

Door-to-door canvassing in your neighborhood
Distribute flyers at community events
Deliver yard signs to supporters
Phone or text banking to remind voters
Share information on social media
Help on Election Day (May 5)

Noelle Ressler(330) 422-3525

John Rutter330-465-8982

Email Campaignlevyvote26@gmail.com

Campaign Websitebaughmantownship.info

🔥 Vote YES Fire & EMS Levy