LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKBN) - Liberty Township Fiscal Officer John Fusco has retired after serving the township for nearly 30 years.

He was elected in the November 1983 election and in his 29th year and eighth term. He decided to leave to prevent losing any of his pension because new pension laws kick in next year.

"If I stay, I will lose some of my hospitalization, so I have to go," Fusco said.

The township recently got out of fiscal emergency. Fusco said cuts in state and local funding played a role in the township falling in the red for a few years.

"We've lost a lot of money. Before, we could put $200,000, $300,000 on roads. So those days are gone I think," Fusco said. "Our main money comes from our motel tax, inheritance and our local government funding. But they've cut a little bit too."

With the motel tax, the township would pick up about $75,000 a year on one motel, saying the Metroplex used to be its biggest moneymaker. But the Metroplex facility will be going up for auction on Wednesday.

And thanks to a $400,000 inheritance tax payment, the township was able to get out of financial trouble.

Also retiring because of the new pension laws is Liberty Township Road Department foreman Michael Adler, who served for 28 years.

The road department has gone from nine men to five since he started.

"So we're working leaner. We're working harder. But we're working smarter also," Adler said.

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2 long-time Liberty officials retiring