MARTINS FERRY –Voters in the city of Martins Ferry decided to renew two separate tax levies — one that helps the police department and another for the volunteer fire department.

In a 1,373-1,036 decision, voters approved renewing a 5-mill tax levy for five years for the Martins Ferry Police Department, according to unofficial totals from the Belmont County Board of Elections. The tax levy generates about $300,000 a year for the department, which serves the city of about 6,596 residents.

When the levy was first pitched to voters, city officials said the money generated from the measure would help lift the burden off the General Fund. Money from the levy can only be used for the police department and is set aside to do so.

Meanwhile, the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department’s tax levy also was renewed with 1,388 voting in favor and 1,023 voting against it. The 1-mill levy helps the department purchase new fire engines as needed. This also is a five-year levy. It generates about $66,000 per year.

The cost of fire engines has increased significantly over the years. The department purchased a new pumper truck back in 2018 for about $488,000. The tax levy is helping to pay off the new vehicle, which is purple and is housed at the Vigilant Station. The new truck holds 500 gallons of water and pumps an additional 800 gallons per minute.

It replaced a 23-year-old pumper that the department planned to resell.