SEBRING, Ohio - Voters in Sebring will decide whether to get rid of a decades old testing system for essential personnel. 

Years ago, the village established a Civil Service Commission to give out tests to candidates for patrolmen and dispatcher positions. The candidates must score 70% or higher to be considered but recently with so many scoring lower it's now turning too many away. 

“It’s a difficult test. It's a multi-tasking test,” Jo Ann Jones, the Chair of the Civil Service Commission said. “Some people aren't good test takers. I taught school for 37 years and they are not.”

Jones chairs the commission that gives the test and supports it being eliminated. She said if it's removed the village would have a different committee made up of the Mayor, Village Manager, Police Chief and one citizen that would give an easier test and consider other characteristics of those applying.

With a different hiring process the village feels they'll get more applicants and fill several empty full and part time positions quickly.

“It's detrimental to keep dispatch running,” Tim Gabrelcik, the Village Manager said. 

Voters will also have to decide on two renewal levies at the ballot. 

A four year fire levy looks to continue funds to maintain equipment for the department. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $55 a year. If passed it would bring in $137,059 a year.

The four year park levy would help with upkeep of popular outdoor spots at both parks in the village. Gabrelcik said the pool and pavilion need cement repairs that the money would be used for. For a $100,000 home the owners would pay $11 a year. It would bring in $32,247 a year. 

“If they do not pass it would cause us to pinch pennies more but we would see some reductions in some of the maintenance which we don’t want to do,” Gabrelcik said. 

Gabrelcik added the money would allow them to apply for grants that require matched funding. Those grants could be able to secure a new splash pad and pickleball courts for the parks. 

All issues will be on November's ballot. ‘Yes’ on the levies would continue funding while a ‘yes’ on the civil service commission would mean eliminating the current committee and test.