A levy to continue funding for Canton Parks and Recreation jumped out to an early lead and coasted to victory.
With all 48 precincts reporting, the levy succeeded with 5,087 votes, or 65% in favor, and 2,706, or 35%, opposed, according to unofficial vote totals posted by the Stark County Board of Elections office.
“I’m overjoyed by all this support by our Canton residents,” said Canton Parks & Rec Director Doug Foltz moments after the unofficial finals results were posted Nov. 4. “I’m humbled that our citizens see the value of what we provide.”
The agency maintains dozens of public parks, basketball courts, tennis courts, trails, splash pads, playgrounds, parking areas and other amenities throughout the city.
Canton Parks and Recreation sought the replacement tax levy, so it can generate about $6.38 million a year, starting in 2027.
The five-year, 4.5-mill property tax will be less millage than the current 5-mill levy. However, because of the recent increase in property valuations, it will generate more money.
The existing levy collects about $4.1 million a year, according to the Stark County Auditor’s Office. It expires at the end of 2026. A property owner will pay $158 a year — $65 more than the current levy — for every $100,000 of their home’s assessed value now that the Nov. 4 measure has passed.
Levy revenue helps to fund full-time, seasonal employee salaries
Canton Parks and Recreation employs about 30 full-time staff and roughly 25 seasonal employees.
Operational costs increase about 4% to 5% a year, Foltz has said, and the replacement levy should provide for the next 10 years.
In Massillon, voters approved a Massillon Public Library replacement levy, which passed by a 61% to 39% margin, or 3,186 votes to 2,003, with all 31 precincts reporting, according to the board of elections website.
The five-year, 2.9-mill measure will help fund day-to-day library operations. Property taxes will go up via the levy’s passage.
The replacement measure is estimated to generate approximately $2.35 million annually.
Police and fire levies garner success in Stark County
Multiple communities had levies to support police or fire department operations. Here are the results of a few of them.
In Brewster, a 3-mill, five-year replacement fire levy passed with 315 votes to 170, or 65% to 35%. It will commence in 2026 and generate $170,415 a year, costing homeowners $105 for every $100,000 of their property’s assessed value — or $26.35 in new taxes.
In Lake Township, a 1.25-mill, three-year renewal fire levy was successful with 4,095 votes to 1,276, or 76% to 24%. It will commence in 2026 and continue to cost homeowners $20.16 for every $100,000 of their property’s assessed value and generate $782,638 a year.
A 2-mill, continuing replacement Lawrence Township police passed 990 votes to 873, or 53% to 47%. The measure starts in 2026 and will generate $664,881 a year, costing homeowners $70 for every $100,0000 of their property’s assessed value — or $41.41 in new taxes.
In Plain Township, a 4.25-mill, five-year, renewal police levy won with 5,574 votes to 2,446, or about 70% to 30%. It commences in 2026 and will generate $3,771,358 per year, continuing to cost homeowners $94.30 for every $100,000 of their property’s assessed value.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Canton Parks & Recreation passes. Here’s how some other Stark area levies fared
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
