AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - Austintown officials made their case directly to residents Thursday evening during a town hall focused on the proposed police levy that will appear on the November ballot.

Trustees unanimously voted in June to place the 2.22-mill levy on the ballot. If passed, it would generate more than $2 million annually, dedicated solely to the police department and dispatch. Leaders emphasized the money cannot be used for the township’s general fund.

Police Chief Valerie Delmont said the department has been stretched thin after losing 10 officers since 2023. The total force now stands at 33, down from 43 just two years ago. “Our police department is stretched thin,” she said. “Over the past few years, we have experienced an increase in calls for service, which has put pressure on our officers. The staffing shortage impacts not only our response times, but the overall effectiveness of our team.”

Delmont outlined how the department has cut overtime, reassigned detectives and task force officers to patrol, and delayed major purchases, including new cruisers. She said officers are relying on vehicles with more than 150,000 miles and community donations to keep the K-9 program running. Specialized training has also been reduced to only mandatory in-house instruction. “Passing this levy will allow us to have effective staffing levels, updated equipment, necessary training and the technology that we need to keep your family safe,” Delmont said.

Trustee Bruce Shepas said the difference if the levy fails would be “drastic.” “If the levy doesn’t pass, we’re going to have less officers, longer response times, and unfortunately, calls will have to be prioritized,” he said. “There’s going to be a reduction in service, and we can’t afford to do that.”

During the meeting, Sgt. David Yohman gave a detailed presentation comparing Austintown’s staffing to nearby communities. Austintown, with nearly 38,000 residents, has 33 officers. Niles, with about half the population, has 36. Yohman said the department’s goal is to return to 37 to 39 officers, which would cover shifts without relying heavily on overtime.

Residents in attendance asked questions about staffing levels, comparisons to other communities, and how the levy funds would be spent. Delmont said those questions show the community wants accountability and transparency. “I think people want to know where their money is going. I think people deserve to know where it’s going,” she said.

Shepas added that trustees want taxpayers to hold them and the police department responsible. “This Board of Trustees is very transparent. We gave them the facts, and this board will be fiscally responsible with your monies on this five-year renewable levy. We want you, the taxpayer, to hold us accountable, along with our police department.”

The levy will go before voters in the Nov. 4 election.