Brimfield and Mantua village rejected tax increases to expand their police departments

Voters in Brimfield Township and the village of Mantua declined to authorize new taxes that would have helped hire more police officers, according to unofficial results of the Nov. 2 election.

Brimfield sought a 1.95-mill levy that would have added nearly $600,000 to the police department’s budget annually. The money would have allowed the township to hire two more police officers and pay for more training and equipment.

The issue failed with 909 votes to 858.

Mantua asked for a 0.5% income tax increase, which would have brought the village’s total income tax to 2%. Officials said the money would supplement the budget for in-house dispatching services and would enable the department to hire a new officer.

Only 234 voters answered the question, with 128 voting against.

“You get what you pay for, and when you live in a nice area, you expect certain services,” said Edi Bland, a Brimfield voter. “We hope that these are the things the community will do for us — including keep us safe.” 

Others in Brimfield said they don’t feel they get their money’s worth for policing as it is.

“I’m not willing to subsidize it,” Brimfield resident Dave Durnan said. “We spend way too much money on their calls up at the Cascades.”