JOHNSTON — The cost for emergency medical and ambulance service provided by Johnston to four neighboring townships will stay the same, but local officials said they are more worried about what will happen if a proposal to eliminate property taxes passes in November 2026.

Johnston Fire Department EMS Coordinator Todd Price said at a meeting Wednesday attended by more than 20 officials from Greene, Gustavus, Johnston, Kinsman and Vernon that the fire departments still face challenges of getting people to cover shifts not only in Johnston, but also in neighboring townships.

He said he does what he can to schedule a paramedic and basic EMT 24/7, but struggles to cover all shifts, especially on Sundays. Price said the challenge is when there are multiple calls at one time, noting the department recently had to respond to three calls in a 90-minute window. He said the department often gets assistance from Brookfield and Cortland.

“I appreciate those who help me cover shifts and understand they have full-time jobs elsewhere. If someone can work a night turn but tell me they need to leave at 5:30 p.m., I take them because they help cover the majority of the shift,” Price said.

Johnston officials said the cost each township pays for EMS will remain the same in 2026.

Johnston Fiscal Officer Sharon Carlson said each amount paid by the township is based on 2 mills, totaling $370,021.

Johnston pays $105,665, Kinsman pays $102,173, Vernon pays $77,411, Gustavus pays $58,148 and Greene pays $26,662 for half the township coverage with $15,000 paid to Bristol Fire Department for coverage of the other half.

TOTAL TRANSPORTS

Price said as of late October, there have been 361 total patient ambulance transports for the year with his projection to be between 415 and 420 total transports by the end of the year. Price said total incidents for the year are expected to be approximately 850.

To date, there were 206 incidents in Johnston, 182 in Kinsman, 95 in Vernon, 72 in Gustavus, 53 in Greene, 35 in other parts of Trumbull County, and seven each in Ashtabula and Mercer (Pa.) counties. Of the incidents, 471 were EMS calls, 46 auto accidents, 35 fire related, and 100 service and hazard.

Kinsman Trustee Greg Leonhard said the township “is blessed to have this ambulance service” and appreciative of what is provided.

He suggested quarterly meetings be held in 2026 with a representative from the five townships attending for updates on the service progress through the year.

Leonhard said all townships need to be concerned about the plans for the property tax issue on the November 2026 general election ballot.

“We need to plan for what might happen and how it will affect the townships. We need to plan for the worst-case scenario if it passes. As a group, we all need to start preparing,” Leonhard said.

Johnston Trustee Davis Denman said he knows many people do not like to pay property taxes, but it is the only way to fund townships.

“I don’t know what we are going to do about it,” Denman said.

Leonhard invited Price to a future Kinsman trustee meeting to answer questions from residents about the EMS contract with the townships.

BILLING RATES

The billing rates for Johnston ambulance service are basic life support, $850; advanced life support 1, $1,000; advanced life support 2, $1,200; and mileage rate at $16 per mile.

Price said the total budget for the fire department is at $664,839 and salary costs paid January through October is $340,925.

He said the department has been successful in retaining employees and adding more to the roster. The department has 13 paramedics, 11 basic EMTs and one intermediate EMT. Price said two of the basics are enrolled in a paramedic program.

“We have been successful in consistently covering the majority of our shifts monthly. In November, out of the 1,660 available hours, only 48 hours are staffed with only one provider. These are typically Sundays, which always prove challenging to cover,” Price said.

He said this year, the department has required mutual aid and paramedics only 31 times or three times per month. Price said this occurs when the duty crew is on a previous call or a crash has multiple patients.

He said the mutual aid paramedic is placed with the remaining duty crew members or off duty responders.

“This year, off-duty members have responded and transported 30 times. This allows our residents to be transported by the squads they financially support,” Price said.