Rush Township residents will see a question on an upcoming election ballot asking if they are in favor of a 4-mill property tax increase to fund more police officers.

At Thursday’s meeting, supervisors unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the ballot question.

The current tax rate is 5.62 mills.

With a 4-mill increase, residents’ property taxes would almost double.

Supervisors asked that the question be added to the April 23 Primary Election ballot, however, Vice Chairman Robert Leibensperger said it will more likely appear on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot.

If the majority of voters agree that they’d like to see more police protection funded by the increase, Leibensberger said public meetings will be held on how to beef up police coverage, whether through adding part-time officers, full-timers or a mix.

The additions to the police force wouldn’t happen until at least 2025, he said.

Rush Township currently has a full-time, salaried chief and several part-timers.

According to Leibensperger, owners of properties assessed at $100,000 are currently paying $562 in property taxes. A 4-mill increase would add $400, bumping them up to a $962.

“So look at your Rush Township property tax and basically double it because that is what it would be,” he said.

He noted that most properties in the township are assessed at between $100,000 and $900,000.

Leibensperger said it costs about $102,000 to have a full-time officer, which includes pay, paid insurances, sick and vacation days, pension, uniforms, equipment and heart and lung benefits. A part-time patrolman costs about $61,000 which also includes pay, some benefits and holiday pay.

“It makes more sense that out of the 3,700 people that we have in the township that they would be better served if we had a predominant amount of part-timers to do the coverage with maybe one full-timer and the chief,” Leibensperger said.