SEBRING — Village officials are pleased that it appears voters have approved an additional 2-mill, five-year levy for the police department, but said park operations will remain stagnant after voters turned down a 2-mill, five-year levy for parks.

At press time, it looked like a 1-mill, five-year renewal levy for recreation had passed.

According to incomplete and unofficial results from Mahoning County Board of Elections, 53% of voters said “yes” to the police issue and 58% said “no” to the parks levy. The renewal for recreation appeared to be passing at press time, with 52% of voters in favor.

Police Chief Ray Harris said he was pleased with the results.

“I’m ecstatic for the officers and my staff,” he said. “The village turned out and they supported the police.”

Village Manager Tim Gabrelcik said he was happy with the outcome for the police department but said officials would have to go back to the drawing board to see what happens with the parks.

Last year, village voters rejected additional levies for police and the parks, but approved new money for the fire department and a renewal for recreation.

Sebring, the largest village in the county, was incorporated in 1899 and has about 4,500 residents.

Harris has said the department, in its 125 years, has not had a levy to help fund the department or its dispatch center.

The department has operated on what the village’s general fund allows, he has said, adding that a measure on the ballot last year lost by eight votes.

The department has the only 911 call center in southwestern Mahoning County and dispatches for two police and three fire departments.

Full-time employees include Harris, a sergeant, five patrol officers and a school resource officer. The department also employs one part-time officer.

The county auditor has said the two mills will generate $148,000 annually and cost residents with a $100,000 home about $70 a year, or roughly $5 per month.

Harris said Sebring officers’ salaries are among the lowest, if not the lowest, in the county, and the ability to offer a competitive wage is key to retaining and recruiting personnel.

The money will be used to increase salaries, hire a new officer, create senior watch and community awareness programs, fund advanced training and retain the local dispatch center, Harris said.

In addition, it will allow the department to create a juvenile intervention program for troubled youth and provide an officer twice a month for the Mahoning County Drug Task Force.

The two-mill, five-year additional levy for parks would have generated $148,000 a year and cost residents with a $100,000 home $70 per year.

The money would have gone toward maintenance and upgrades to Northside and Southside parks.

Gabrelcik has said the money would have been used for improvements including pickleball courts, widening of the walking path at Southside Park, and the addition of new playground equipment and repairs for the pool, pavilion and at the Civic Center gymnasium.