STEUBENVILLE — Mayor Ralph Petrella says the .3 percent renewal levy on the May 5 election ballot in Steubenville can essentially be summed up in just two words: public safety.

The levy, if renewed, would generate around $300,000 a year over the next five years, with about 85 percent of the revenue earmarked specifically for salaries. The rest, around 15 percent, goes into the general fund to help pay for street resurfacing or to leverage as local match dollars for grants.

“That funding is so vital to our police and to our fire,” Petrella said. “When you look at it, it’s about public safety, making sure you keep your citizens safe. If you cannot pay police or fire fighters, you cannot recruit businesses here because that business will be afraid of being vandalized or robbed. There isn’t a future where we can operate without that funding. Without a doubt, reducing safety services would put lives at risk.”

Finance Director Dave Lewis said the .3 percent levy proceeds cover wages and benefits for about 80 of the city’s 200 full-time employees, mostly police, fire and EMS. “Those are all vital to the city,” Lewis said. “I can’t emphasize that enough. This levy funds our safety forces…police, fire and EMS.”

Petrella pointed out that crime in Steubenville has declined considerably over the past decade.

“A lot of that is because of that levy funding and the steps we’ve taken to stop crime and solve crimes,” he said. “That is shown by us having the lowest crime rates we’ve had in the last 40 years.”

Likewise, he said levy proceeds ensure that when residents report a house fire or a medical emergency, help arrives quickly.

“That funding is very, very important because right now we have excellent response times. We have coverage all over the city, and if we lost funding for payroll, we would no longer be able to operate EMS or operate at the capacity we are now.”

Petrella said reducing fire safety and medical response “would also deter business and industry from entering Steubenville because of safety concerns. With regard to economic development, levies are exponentially important in recruiting and retaining business.”

He also said the .3 percent levy proceeds earmarked for street improvements has helped the city “fix a lot of potholes, repair roads and upgrade roads.” Not having it “would make it harder for us to get local matches for grants.”

Fire Chief Joe Ribar said the levy “is our main source of revenue to fund fire and EMS. If the levy is not renewed there will be significant cuts to the department, which could include the EMS service overall. EMS services are provided by the most recent hires to the department, so any cuts that would result in layoffs would start with the bottom of the seniority list, which includes our EMS providers.”

Police Chief Ken Anderson said levy renewal is crucial.

“Eighty-five percent of this renewal levy goes to the general fund. Two-thirds of that 85 percent is used to fund police and fire wages and benefits. Without it there would be a serious impact to the police department and the services we provide to our citizens,” Anderson said.

“Our officers work incredibly hard to serve and protect our city, and we would ask the voters for their continued support in passing it on May 5.”

“It’s all very vital to the city,” City Manager Jim Mavromatis, who is officially retiring Tuesday, said. “Police and fire are core services. That’s why it’s so important that the levies pass. People will sometimes ask, ‘Why do we need this many firefighters?’ but your insurance rates are based on what type of fire prevention we have in place. If we didn’t have a department the size it is now, homeowner insurance rates would be outrageous. Our police are responsible for the security of our city. They’re a vital, integral part of our security. That’s what brings people to Steubenville to live, the low crime rate.”

New City Manager Mike Johnson said there’s no scenario where city services could continue as they are now without those levy revenues.

“Without the levy, our safety forces would be negatively impacted,” he said. “The .3 percent levy also funds our street improvements. We currently do not have enough funding to pave all the roads that need paved. With no levy, fewer roads will be paved.”