FARMINGTON — Voters in the township approved a 2.9-mill operating levy for the fire department by only one vote Tuesday, but a recount could change the outcome.

The Farmington 2.9-mill levy for fire and emergency medical services for a continuous period of time passed 152-151, based on unofficial results.There is one provisional ballot to be counted for the levy, said Stephanie Penrose, director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

If that vote is against the levy, it would fail because a majority is needed to pass tax issues, Penrose said. If the vote is in favor of the levy, it would pass and wouldn’t be subject to an automatic recount because the margin of victory would be 0.66 of a percent. Any results that are 0.5 of a percent or less gets an automatic recount.

Trustee Dave Stephens said Tuesday night he was very happy with the results he called “crazy.” He noted the same thing happened a few years ago when one vote determined the outcome of a township road levy.

The 2.9-mill operating levy in Farmington will raise $203,907 per year for the fire department.

Farmington Fire Chief Jonathan Bland said previously the township will eliminate three fire levies passed in 1982, 1983 and 1986 since the additional levy passed. Those three levies raised $71,699 per year. The new levy will bring in $126,998 per year in new money.

Property owners will pay an estimated $102 per year for each $100,000 of the home’s appraised value, through 2027.

Currently, the department has a budget of $370,750 per year. With the new money, the department will have $497,748 a year for operations. The department’s 25 part-time firefighters are cross trained as emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

In 2017, the township changed from being an all-volunteer department to staffing all part-timers, increasing EMT wages from $8 per hour to $15 per hour, and paramedic wages from $9 per hour to $19 per hour.

Bland has said the levy is necessary because projected inflation means the department would have been operating at a deficit within a few years.

VERNON

A 2.5-mill levy in Vernon Township will raise about $97,000 per year to pay for the increasing cost of EMS services supplied by Johnston Township Fire Department. The issue passed 60% to 40%, according to complete but unofficial results.

Township Trustee Jeffrey McGee said previously the contract with Johnston Township increased from about $55,000 a year to more than $77,500 this year and next.

Owners of a $100,000 home in Vernon will see a property tax increase of about $88 per year, officials have said.

Johnston EMS covers Kinsman, Gustavus, Greene and Vernon townships.

Retaining staff and staying competitive in salaries were the two main reasons Vernon officials asked for the levy.

A basic level EMT in Johnston makes $13.30 per hour, intermediate EMT’s earn $14.30 per hour, and paramedics make $15.30 per hour. The new money will add a little more than $2 per hour to their wages.

Vernon Township Fire Department’s general operational budget kicks in the difference between the money raised by the current 1.5-mill levy and the contracted amount paid for Johnston’s EMS service.

Officials say this takes away from their ability to provide basic services and that costs for gas and equipment have increased dramatically since the pandemic.

Johnston Township Fire Chief Todd Price said the cost for hiring paramedics with EMS skills has increased, leading to a nationwide shortage and making it difficult for smaller departments to retain and attract good candidates.