As the November 5 election approaches, Warren County voters are presented with more than two dozen local issues, notably in Harveysburg, where six ballot items are citizen-driven. Among these is Issue 10, a referendum that would determine whether the 195-year-old village, home to approximately 550 residents, will continue to exist as a government entity. This is not the first time Harveysburg faces the prospect of dissolution; voters narrowly rejected a similar measure in 2023, with a margin of just 27 votes. If passed, Issue 10 would result in the village being absorbed into Massie Township, a situation Harveysburg Mayor Jonathan Funk vehemently opposes, citing improvements made in response to community complaints.
The push for this ballot issue was spearheaded by a committee that includes Gary and Lynn Hatfield and Terri L. Smith, but communication between village officials and these petitioners has been limited. Funk indicated that he sought to discuss withdrawing Issue 10 with Gary Hatfield, but the deadline for such a move had elapsed. Compounding the situation, Warren County Board of Elections Director Brian Sleeth has also been involved in discussions regarding the possibility of withdrawal without addressing the petitioners directly. If residents choose to dissolve the village, a state law mandates the establishment of a supervisory board to manage the transition process, which includes overseeing the village’s financial liabilities and obligations.
In addition to the dissolution question, Harveysburg voters will consider two property tax levies aimed at funding essential services—one for general operations and another dedicated to police services. Both levies were turned down in the previous election, leading to concerns about the village’s financial health. Other ballot issues reflect the community’s attempts to alter existing fiscal policies, including the repeal of an admissions tax and building inspection fees, which would involve potential refunds to residents who paid those fees. Legal counsel for the village, Chase Kirby, has indicated complex outcomes could result from various combinations of accepted and rejected measures on the ballot.
Despite the pressing issues at hand, the Harveysburg Council emphasizes the necessity of property tax levies as a primary funding source, given the minimal sales tax revenue the area generates. Specifically, Issue 8 proposes a 3-mill, five-year property tax that would cost homeowners with properties valued at $100,000 about $105 annually, while Issue 9 proposes a slightly lower levy to support police services. Should these levies fail once more, village officials have proposed using funds from a new financial agreement with the Ohio Renaissance Festival, which would provide a minimum annual guarantee of $100,000 for the next ten years—a vital resource for maintaining village operations.
Moreover, if the proposed levies are unsuccessful again, this supplemental revenue could be jeopardized by the village’s potential dissolution, as noted by Mayor Funk. The mayor expressed a desire not merely to sustain, but to improve community services and infrastructure, indicating that prior efforts had been lacking. The fate of Harveysburg hangs in the balance, contingent upon the outcomes of these pivotal ballot measures. While the village grapples with its identity and strategic direction, regional ballot questions elsewhere in Warren County encompass diverse issues, including school funding, fire services, and attempts to amend cannabis ordinances, reflecting the broader spectrum of local governance challenges faced throughout the area.
In summary, the upcoming election in Harveysburg represents a critical juncture for the small community, as residents contemplate potential changes to their governance and revenue structures. The discussion around Issue 10 serves not only as a marker for local sentiment regarding government preservation versus dissolution but also highlights the controversies and complexities surrounding fiscal management in small municipalities. With various ballot measures aiming to address tax levies, community services, and structural changes within local governance, the outcome of these decisions could significantly reshape the civic landscape of Harveysburg and its surrounding areas. As voters prepare to make their voices heard, the stakes are undeniably high, with myriad implications for both the present and future of this historical village.
