Government
Island Creek is the largest of the fourteen townships in Jefferson County, Ohio.
State law authorizes Ohio townships to operate under a basic form of government and perform a wide variety of functions. There are 1,308 townships in Ohio and they are varied in population size, annual operating budget, and range of services delivered to residents.
The maintenance and repair of township roads is the largest function of most of Ohio’s townships today, and includes such activities as snow removal and weed control. Ohio townships receive part of the state’s motor vehicle license fees and gasoline tax, as well as generating additional revenues through local taxation to fund road maintenance.
Ohio law permits townships to provide fire protection directly or by contract with townships, municipalities and other jurisdictions. Township fire departments are staffed with full-time and/or volunteer firefighters, or a combination of both.
Townships receive revenue from local property taxes and from the gasoline and motor vehicle license taxes, as well as the local government fund from the state. Increases in property taxes must be approved by voters. Townships collect less than 6 percent of local property taxes in Ohio.
