Bainbridge Twp. voters face a permanent property tax for police. Here’s what Issue 12 would cost

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Bainbridge voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve a continuing property tax levy supporting the township police department.

Issue 12 would generate an estimated $2,539,972 annually. The levy would cost property owners $105 per year for every $100,000 of appraised property value.

If approved, the 3-mill levy would begin collection in 2026, with the first payments due in 2027. Because it is a continuing levy, it would have no expiration date.

Police Chief Jon Bokovitz said the department needs the money to continue operating, telling 19 News the department is “out of money.”

The township’s current police levy expires this year. Voters approved that levy in 2016, with the goal of funding operations for eight to 10 years and increasing staffing from 20 to 25 officers.

The department says it reached that staffing goal.

Bokovitz said Issue 12 would maintain current services. He said it would not add officers or create major new programs.

“I don’t foresee us getting anything else. Unless there’s some breakthrough with a computer program we can use for investigations.”

The ballot language says the levy would fund police department vehicles, communications equipment, buildings, other equipment, personnel costs and related expenses.

It also references ambulance and emergency medical services operated by a police department. Bokovitz said the money voters are considering would cover only police operating costs.

The township currently has two Flock cameras near the Geauga Lake shopping plaza. Bokovitz said the levy would maintain those cameras, not add more.

“Getting crime solved down on the plaza, down where we have a lot of retail theft.”

Sean Davis, who has lived in Bainbridge Township for more than 20 years, said he does not support the levy.

“Us homeowners have to constantly cut back in our budgets over and over again in order to make ends meet.”

Davis also questioned whether the department needs its current staffing structure.

“Patrols on the street as opposed to countless administrators and detective and things that Bainbridge Township just doesn’t need.”

The levy would continue indefinitely unless voters change it in a future election.