The voters in the village of Lordstown approved an additional 0.5 percent income tax levy Tuesday, which will be used to hire full-time firefighter/EMS personnel and to be able to maintain fire department equipment and ambulance service for the residents. 

Mayor Arno Hill, who said he was grateful to village residents for passing the levy, told 21 News that the additional income levy is expected to bring somewhere between $1 million to $1.5 million to the village, and could go hire with new businesses adding additional staffing in the village.

Hill said the EMS crew had more than 900 calls last year in the village, and the number of calls is increasing yearly. 

The funds will allow the village to maintain the ambulance service at a level of service that residents expect.

The mayor is hoping to be able to hire six to eight full-time EMS/firefighters with the additional revenue, but said he will leave the decision up to the fire chief Travis Eastham.

 Hill said that the original levy funds can now go to improve roads and to help the police department as well.

Hill said he is proud of the level of police, fire, EMS and road services they are able to provide to their community and the new funds will help maintain that.