Deerfield Twp. residents could see two levies on the ballot this year.

The first one being considered by trustees would replace a 2.5 mill police levy that’s been in effect for 10 years and helps the township pay for its contract with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office for 26 deputies, according to Bill Becker, the township’s administrator.

“The county used to pay for six of those deputies, but that’s not longer the case, so we have to maintain and fund our police with township funds,” Becker said. “That budget is in trouble. We’re going to have to go back to voters for an increase.”

That levy could end up on the ballot later this year or in 2014, but exactly how much that levy would increase in terms of millage is yet to be determined, Becker said.

“We’re still trying to determine what we’re going to need to keep that solid for the next 10 years,” he said.

The second levy to be discussed this year will be a 5-year, 1-mill parks levy that expired Dec. 31.

“In order to keep our parks system operating and going forward we’ve got to put that on in 2013,” Becker said. “Because it’s expired and is going back, it’ll be a new levy based on the law, but it’s a 1-mill replacement levy.”

This year, township parks will receive park levy tax revenue based on 2012 valuations. The levy will pull in $848,437 in 2013.

Voters last approved a park levy in a March 2008 primary election by a 59.3 percent to 40.7 percent margin.

If passed, the levy would retroactively cover all of 2013’s tax revenue to be collected in 2014.

“The legislation would be written so that there’s no interruption of funds so that we can maintain our parks,” Becker said.

The township maintains 46-acre Cottell, 50-acre Fleckenstein, 10-acre Schappacher and 90-acre Carter parks, and supports Landen-Deerfield, a county park, and small, passive park areas.

Trustee President Chris Romano said while other areas might believe they cannot simultaneously put two levies on the ballot and get both passed, that’s not the way Deerfield trustees view the matter.

“We’re looking at it as ‘here’s your opportunity to tell us what you think,” Romano said. “If you like what we’re doing with the police services, vote ‘yes.’ If you like the way we’re managing the parks system, if you like the fact that about 10 years ago we had almost no active or passive parks and now we have more than 400 acres and an active parks program that includes lots and lots of opportunities for recreation and quality of life, then vote ‘yes.’”