ROSS TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Ross Twp. voters weren’t willing to open their pocketbooks to increase funding for their fire department.

Final, unofficial results from the Butler County Board of Elections show voters rejected the 6-5-mill continuing levy 1,136 to 976 or 53.8 percent to 46.2 percent.

“This will change the trajectory we head in,’’ said fire Chief Christopher Johns.

Trustee Keith Ballauer said the board would discuss the results and next steps at Thursday’s trustees’ meeting.

Had the levy passed, it would have raised about $2.1 million annually and replaced two existing 5-year levies totaling 5.75 mills that together brought in $1.1 million, said Julie Joyce-Smith, the township’s fiscal officer. Trustees previously said they would rescind those levies had the new one passed.

The

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