NORTH JACKSON, Ohio - Voters in Jackson Township have passed a 4.9 mill continuous operating levy for its fire department.

The levy passed by a margin of 54.4 percent to 45.16 percent. 

The levy will cost homeowners an extra $172 per $100,000 of their property value and will generate $725,981 per year for the fire department.

Jackson Township EMS Battalion Chief Jace Melick told 21 News the funding is necessary to allow the fire department to offer 24/7 fire and EMS coverage for the township.

Jackson Township fire chief Mike Mortimer said he's been watching the results carefully, joking that he hasn't taken a breath since the early morning hours. 

Mortimer said this levy passing will allow the department to move slowly towards 24 hour per day, seven day a week staffing. 

""This is a major step for our department. We've been all volunteer since our inception in 1953 and this levy is going to allow us to take that next step as a department and move towards staffing," Mortimer said. 

You can track all local election results live by clicking here.