READING, Ohio \u2014 Next week, residents in Reading will vote on a hotly debated bond levy to fund upgrades to the fire and police departments and Veterans Memorial Stadium. <\/p>\n
The levy is 5.89 mills, which would cost homeowners a maximum of $206 per $100,000 of their home’s market value annually over the next 28 years. <\/p>\n
Mayor Robert Bemmes said the levy would fund a new building for the fire department and allow the police department to take over the current fire station.<\/p>\n
He said the changes are long overdue because both departments operate out of the same building, causing overcrowding<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will increase their response times, which is huge to us, for heart attacks, for strokes, seconds matter,” Bemmes said. <\/p>\n
Bemmes said money would also be used to upgrade part of City Hall. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if there\u2019s ever been a levy that covered so many issues,” Bemmes said.<\/p>\n
WATCH: We visited Reading to learn more about the levy and why some residents are against it<\/p>\n
Reading voters to decide on $27M levy for police, fire upgrades, stadium improvements<\/p>\n
In total, the levy would raise an estimated $25 million to $27 million. Safety Service Director Patrick Ross said the project can’t exceed $27 million. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo one likes to ask people to pay for things, but unfortunately, if you want to move into the future and move forward, you have to make big improvements,” Ross said.<\/p>\n