By Susan Vela and Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Voters in Norwood and Crosby Township said no Tuesday to more taxes to pay for greater police and fire protection.

The greatest impact could be felt in Norwood, where voters turned down two separate 2.5-mill tax levies for police and fire departments in Tuesday's special election.

For the police levy, the final vote in unofficial results was 1,164 votes against the police levy, or 68 percent, to 555 in favor, or 32 percent.

For the fire levy, the final vote was 1,129 against the levy, or 66 percent, to 577 in favor, or 34 percent.

The levies would have generated about $960,000 a year for each department. Without the money, there could be fewer firefighters and police officers. Officials also say emergency response times could lengthen from three minutes to 20 minutes.

Other Hamilton County issues:

• In Crosby Township, a 3.5-mill continuing levy that would have provided $200,000 annually for the fire department failed.

The final vote was 188 votes against the levy, or 54 percent, and 163 votes in favor, or 46 percent. The levy would have provided for more full-time staffing.

• In Columbia Township, a 3-mill continuing police levy was approved. The levy passed with 433 votes in favor, or 63 percent, and 251 votes against, or 37 percent.

It will generate about $352,000 a year so the township can hire two more full-time police officers and buy equipment for the beefed-up staff. The owner of a $100,000 home will pay about $105 in new taxes a year.

• St. Bernard will have its first charter. The question was approved, with 468 votes in favor, or 93 percent, and 33 votes against, or 7 percent.

• In Indian Hill, a ballot initiative that would have required approval of 75 percent of adjacent property owners to change zoning involving any nonresidential properties was defeated. The final vote was 1,225 votes against, or 83 percent, and 253 votes in favor, or 17 percent.

In Warren County:

• Deerfield Township voters approved a 1-mill replacement levy for park and recreational purposes. There were 1,936 votes in favor and 1,556 votes against, or 55 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed.

• Wayne Township's 1.8-mill fire renewal levy also passed, with 1,364 votes in favor and 607 votes against, or 69 percent in favor and 31 percent opposed.

In Clermont County:

• In New Richmond, voters approved police and fire tax levies. Voters approved a 1-mill continuing levy for fire and emergency medical services by a vote of 166-97, or 63 percent to 37 percent. They also approved a 2-mill continuing police levy by a vote of 143-118, or 55 percent to 45 percent.

• Voters in Moscow renewed a 1-mill operating levy, 35-5.

E-mail svela@enquirer.com and esolvig@enquirer.com