Road & Bridge Levy – Frequently Asked Questions

If township roads are unsafe, buses won’t run here, even if schools are open, families must get children
to school on their own.

Details:

• The Superintendent of Oregon City Schools has explained that assigned people drive and check
  the roads before the school day begins.
• If Jerusalem Township roads are judged unsafe, buses will not run here — even though schools
  are open and buses are serving other neighborhoods.
• That leaves it to parents and guardians to get children to school.
• The impact is real: kids miss class, fall behind, and their education suffers.
• Safe, well-maintained roads aren’t just about convenience, they are about protecting our children’s
  education.
• The Road & Bridge Levy is how we fix this problem and ensure buses can safely serve every part
  of the district.

Township roads are the connective tissue, you rely on them whether you live on one or not, and we live
in a community that depends on safe, connected roads. Many residents live on county, state, or private
roads, but every single person depends on township roads.

Details:

• Township roads are the connective tissue that link your driveway to county and state highways.
• School buses can’t reach kids without them.
• Emergency vehicles can’t respond quickly without them.
• Daily trips — to work, the store, church, or the lake — almost always run through township roads.
• When township roads fail, the entire network breaks down, making county and state roads
  inaccessible.
• The Road & Bridge Levy is a small, shared cost, about 25¢ per day per $100,000 of assessed
  value, to keep the entire system connected, reliable, and safe for everyone.

The proposal is a combination of a one-mill renewal, the one-mill renewal costs exactly the same as
right now, and a two-mill increase will add a modest adjustment to cover today’s road needs. Each levy
lasts five years and then automatically expires unless voters choose to renew it.

Details:

• The one-mill renewal means you continue paying what you are paying now, not a penny more.
• The two-mill increase is new, but the cost is spread across all households, making the impact
  manageable compared to the much larger expenses caused by unsafe, deteriorating roads.
• If this renewal does not pass, the current one mill expires at the end of the year, leaving the
  Township without that funding, and any future levy would have to be placed on the ballot at higher
  costs.
• Road & Bridge Levies are approved for five years at a time and then automatically expire unless
  voters choose to renew them.
• Jerusalem Township has passed renewals several times over the past decades to keep roads safe,
  plowed, passable, and mowed.
• Supporting the Road & Bridge Levy now avoids funding gaps and keeps road maintenance stable.

By law, funds are restricted to township roads, tracked in a separate account, and publicly reported.

Details:

• Road & Bridge Levy dollars cannot be diverted to other purposes.
• Ohio law requires that these funds be placed in a separate account and used only for township
  road maintenance.
• Trustees must report spending publicly.
• Residents see results, not just promises.

Yes, most homeowners qualify for the Owner Occupied Credit.

Details:

• It is automatically applied to primary residences.
• It lowers the actual cost for most residents.
• This makes the Road & Bridge Levy more affordable for families.

When values go up, levy rates go down, so your payment doesn’t spike.

Details:

• In 1976, Ohio voters passed House Bill 920 to protect homeowners from sudden tax increases
  caused by rising property values.
• HB 920 requires that when property values are reappraised, the effective millage on existing levies
  must be rolled back so the township collects roughly the same total dollars as before.
• That means if the Road & Bridge Levy is renewed, the rate adjusts downward, and homeowners
  continue paying about what they pay now.
• For example, a home assessed at $100,000 pays $90 for a 3-mill levy. Even if property values rise,
  the millage is reduced so the dollar amount stays nearly the same.

It is based on the Auditor’s assessed value, usually lower than market value.

Details:

• The levy uses 100 percent assessed value from the Lucas County Auditor.
• For questions, contact the Lucas County Auditor’s Office at 419-213-4406.
• This keeps the Road & Bridge Levy cost reasonable for families.

Check the Lucas County Auditor’s website, or contact their office at 419-213-4406 for help.

Details:

• Visit https://co.lucas.oh.us/85/Auditor.
• Search by name or address.
• The Auditor’s office can also explain your exact property breakdown.

Ninety dollars per $100,000 of assessed value, about 25¢ a day.

Details:

• That is less than a $2.79 cup of coffee per week (average price of cup of coffee in Oregon, Ohio).
• The levy ensures township roads remain safe and passable.

Your dollars keep plows running, salt on the roads, mowing done, and roads resurfaced.

Details:

• Contributions fund resurfacing, snowplowing, salting, mowing, and contractor services.
• Without the Road & Bridge Levy, many of these services would be cut back or stop altogether.

Snowplowing, salting, mowing, resurfacing — the basics that keep roads safe.

Details:

Snowplowing with two trucks making multiple passes during storms • Salt, 200–250 tons per year at est. $60 per ton spread across township roads

Mowing, est. 3–4 times per year

Resurfacing, asphalt and tar-and-chip on a five-year cycle

Because it is nearly 10× cheaper, $30,000 per mile vs. $295,000.

Details:

• Tar and chip is cost-effective for rural, low-traffic roads.
• Asphalt is reserved for busier roads.

The state money helps, but it is not nearly enough to cover 34 miles of roads.

Details:

• In August 2025, the township received $15,256.93 from state-shared revenues.
• Even if every month looked like that, a year’s total would be about $183,000.
• Compare that to actual costs: Asphalt resurfacing costs est. $295,000 per mile; Tar & chip
  resurfacing costs est. $30,000 per mile; Resurfacing all 34 miles would cost about $10 million in
  asphalt or about $1 million in tar and chip.
• One year of state money doesn’t even cover one mile of asphalt.
• State revenues leave us short by hundreds of thousands each year.
• That is why the Road & Bridge Levy is essential.

Delaying only makes costs climb higher and roads deteriorate faster.

Details:

• After 1 year, costs could increase around 10 percent.
• After 2 years, costs could increase around 20 percent, structural repairs may be needed.
• After 3 years, costs could increase around 35 percent, some roads could become unsafe or
  impassable.
• After 4 years, costs could increase around 50 percent, contractors could be harder to secure.
• After 5 years, costs could double, requiring full reconstruction instead of resurfacing.

Our road miles nearly doubled, the cost of materials keeps climbing, and without the Road & Bridge
Levy, services will be cut.

Details:

• Earlier versions were rejected in 2024 and 2025.
• Since then, Lucas County transferred more roads to Jerusalem Township (all Lucas County
  townships received additional miles).
• Our responsibility jumped from 19 miles to 34 miles, without proportional funding or equipment.
• Asphalt, salt, and fuel costs continue to rise.
• If the levy fails again: Plowing and salting will be reduced, repairs will stop, emergency response
  may be delayed, property values will fall.

Waiting only makes it more expensive, costs rise 50 percent in four years or double in five.

Details:

• Road materials and labor almost never decrease in price.
• If we wait: In 4 years, the same work could cost 50 percent more; In 5 years, the same work could
  cost double.
• Delaying means the township gets less work done for the same dollars.
• Meanwhile, roads deteriorate faster and repairs become more expensive.
• Passing the Road & Bridge Levy now locks in today’s prices and prevents runaway costs.

We fall behind while their roads stay safe, contractors prioritize funded communities.

Details:

• Neighboring townships that pass levies will maintain their roads.
• Contractors will prioritize their funded projects first.
• Jerusalem Township will fall to the back of the line.
• Our roads will deteriorate while theirs stay safe.
• That lowers property values, reduces safety, and damages community reputation.

Contact the Lucas County Auditor’s Office at 419-213-4406 for official, household-specific details.

Details:

• They provide the full breakdown of property tax impacts.
• They can answer detailed questions about how the Road & Bridge Levy applies to you.
• They can also explain exactly how the levy affects your personal property.