At the May 2 primary election, Blanchester residents have a decision to make: Will we still have green areas — Memorial Park on Route 133 and the old State Park on Route 28 — available for residents of all ages in our village to enjoy?

Over the past few years state tax money to villages has dropped, leaving most villages with financial problems. Council has removed our parks from the general fund budget, choosing to ask residents to vote on a new 3-mill park levy to finance the parks. If the levy passes, we will still have green areas for everyone. If it fails, these parks will soon be closed, leaving us with no green areas for the public.

Bottom line: The levy is based on a property owner’s assessed value (not market value). You can check your county tax bill, but a quick guide to follow is: If your house and property assessed value is $35,000, the 3-mill levy would increase your taxes $105 a year, or less than 30 cents a day.

That’s a small amount to pay for green areas for everyone in our village to enjoy. We don’t want to lose these parks, so please support this levy.

Harry Brumbaugh

Blanchester resident since 1944