After a year of deep budget cuts following a failed police levy on the 2024 ballot, Austintown officials got a reason to celebrate Tuesday night.

Voters approved a five-year additional levy of 2.2 mills to fund the township's police department by a margin of 3,937 for the levy, 3,685 against. The levy will cost homeowners approximately $77 for every $100,000 in property value, generating more than $2 million annually.

"This was something that we definitely did need," said Austintown Trustee Robert Santos, who also won his reelection bid Tuesday night. "Otherwise, there were going to be some very, extremely hard choices being made."

The Austintown police department has taken deep cuts this year: reducing staff from 43 to 34 officers, slashing overtime, eliminating subscription-based programs and holding off on new vehicle purchases.

It will take some time to collect the money, but Trustee Bruce Shepas said the township will start with "staffing to a respectable level, and buying some vehicles that we haven't bought in the past few years."

Austintown trustees and police spent months trying to convince voters to back the levy, amid a statewide movement to eliminate property taxes altogether.

Austintown Chief of Police Valorie Delmont told 21 News, "I am excited and relieved that the police levy has passed and we can move forward ensuring the safety of our community."

The police department's union also released a statement thanking the community for backing the levy. 

"Your willingness to invest your hard-earned dollars into public safety is something we do not take lightly," the statement read. "This vote of confidence allows us to continue serving you with the resources, training, and staffing needed to respond effectively, protect our neighborhoods, and keep Austintown a safe and welcoming place for everyone."

See all election results here.