AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - Austintown officials made their case directly to residents Thursday evening during a town hall focused on the proposed police levy that will appear on the November ballot.

Trustees unanimously voted in June to place the 2.22-mill levy on the ballot. If passed, it would generate more than $2 million annually, dedicated solely to the police department and dispatch. Leaders emphasized the money cannot be used for the township’s general fund.

Police Chief Valerie Delmont said the department has been stretched thin after losing 10 officers since 2023. The total force now stands at 33, down from 43 just two years ago. “Our police department is stretched thin,” she said. “Over the past few years, we have experienced an increase in calls for service, which has put pressure on

See Full Page