ST. CLAIRSVILLE - In the midst of the worst recession in a quarter century, Belmont County and three of its municipalities - Bellaire, Flushing and Warren Township - will ask voters to approve new levies for government spending.

Four additional tax levies are set to go before voters when they head to the polls Nov. 3, and many more levies are up for renewal or replacement.

Voters countywide will be asked to approve more funding for social services programs provided by the county Department of Job and Family Services. Elsewhere, Bellaire needs money for its police department, Flushing wants more dollars for fire and ambulance services and Warren Township is asking for more funding for roads and bridges.

• Bellaire will ask voters to approve an additional 5-mill levy for a continuing period of time. Funds generated would go for operations of the police department and be used for salaries of full-time officers.

The levy comes as Bellaire officials expect to have a $177,000 deficit in the village's general fund budget in 2010. The police levy is expected to generate $174,000 annually, according to Police Chief Michael Kovalyk.

He said financial problems in village departments other than the police department already have brought about $94,000 in cuts to the police department over the past two years.

"It's not about adding anything," Kovalyk said. "We just want to sustain the level of protection we already have."

He noted that comparing law enforcement needs in Bellaire to neighboring communities isn't possible because "the level and intensity of activity is far greater in Bellaire than in other towns."

"The sheriff's department cutting personnel affects all of us," he added. "Just because cuts are made doesn't mean crime cuts itself. The criminal element will take notice. ... I know taxing people right now is not a popular issue. In Bellaire, we have had other increases with other fees, but we are hard-pressed to try to maintain a safe atmosphere for everybody."

• All county voters will see on their ballots a levy seeking an additional 1 mill for 10 years for the purpose of supplementing general fund appropriations for social service programs. These programs would provide for the care of children and adults and a Children's Advocacy Center.

Belmont County's DJFS recently laid off 20 employees. Officials said more than $2 million has been lost since June for programs such as Children Services and adult protective services, and that this is why the levy is needed.

"We didn't want to do this," Dwayne Pielech, director of the Belmont County DJFS, told county commissioners last month. "It's a tough time to come to the public."

• Flushing is asking residents to approve an additional 5-mill levy for five years to provide fire and emergency medical services operated by the fire department.

• Warren Township has placed on the ballot an additional levy for 2 mills for five years for roads and bridges in the township.

The following are other issues appearing on ballots in Belmont County communities:

• Bridgeport Exempted Village School District - Replacement of 4-mill levy for a continuing period of time.

• Shadyside Local School District Renewal of a 5.4-mill levy for three years for the purpose of providing for emergency requirements of the school district.

• Barnesville village An ordinance to authorize all action necessary to opt-out of the Natural Gas Aggregation Program.

• Holloway village Renewal of 2.5-mill levy for five years for purchasing fire and emergency squad equipment.

• Shadyside village Renewal of 4-mill current expenses levy for five years.

• St. Clairsville city An ordinance to authorize all action necessary to opt-out of the Natural Gas Aggregation Program.

• St. Clairsville city Replacement of 0.95-mill levy for five years for police operations and salaries of full-time officers.

• Kirkwood Township Renewal of 0.5-mill levy for fire protection for five years.

• Mead Township Replacement of 0.5-mill levy for fire operations for five years.

• Mead Township Replacement of 1-mill levy for the purpose of construction, reconstruction and resurfacing roads.

• Pease Township Renewal of 0.5-mill levy for fire protection and emergency services for five years.

• Wayne Township Renewal of 1.45-mill levy for general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repairing of roads and bridges.

In addition, three businesses in the county are seeking to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays, and the issue will go before voters in these precincts only:

• Precinct 84 Quick Stop Sunday sales between the hours of 1 p.m. and midnight.

• Precinct 102 Sam's Club Sunday sales between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight.

• Precinct 102 Wal-Mart Sunday sales between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight.