CHAMPION — As township trustees take the final step to get an additional fire levy on the May 5 primary ballot, trustees and fire officials from Bristol, Champion and Warren townships are looking at ways to work together for fire services.

Trustees and fire officials from the three townships met Tuesday in Champion to discuss shared service options.

Champion Trustee Chairman Doug Emerine said all three townships are struggling for funds and finding enough firefighters to cover shifts. He said officials are discussing possibly sharing equipment, vehicles and staff.

He said the three departments provide mutual aid to one another, but staffing shortfalls at different times of the day do not make it possible to provide mutual aid at all times. Emerine said Champion has the fire station staffed all the time, while other nearby fire departments are only staffed 60% of the time. Emerine said officials from the three townships plan to meet again in five to six weeks to see what ideas might work.

“We want to see what ideas will work and how we can work together to provide fire protection,” he said.

Champion officials on Tuesday also gave final reading for placing a new 2.65-mill, five-year levy on the May primary ballot. The deadline to place an issue on the ballot is Feb. 4.

Fiscal Officer Laurie Jo Miller said previously the levy would generate approximately $692,145 annually for fire and emergency medical services. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay approximately $93 per year.

Champion fire Chief Tom Dempsey said staffing is a major issue and levy funds would help cover costs for additional staff. Dempsey said fire and EMS calls have increased over the years, with more than 2,700 calls in 2025.

He said despite the increased call volume, staffing at the department has not increased to keep up with those numbers.

If the levy passes, the department will be able to hire three additional firefighters / paramedics. Dempsey said the fire department has two full-time and two part-time firefighters per shift and would like to have three full-time firefighters and two part-time firefighters per shift. He said it would be ideal to have five firefighters per shift.

Miller said that cost would be $360,000, which would increase each year because of health insurance and pay increases.

Dempsey said it is getting much harder to find part-time staff because 90% of them work full-time jobs at other fire departments.

He said the township provides mutual aid to Southington, Bristol and Warren townships and receives help from them as well.

Dempsey said in addition to staffing, levy funds also would be used for needed equipment, vehicles and facility updates such as fire bay doors. He said there is a need for new fire hoses and other rescue equipment, replacing aged turnout gear and boots, and computer upgrades at the stations estimated at $45,700.

Miller said a 2014 ambulance needs replaced and a new one costs $180,000, which would be paid over five years at $36,000 annually with new levy money.

Miller said at a meeting earlier this month the 2025 budget for the fire department was approximately $1.5 million, with additional revenue at $122,789 with a carryover for 2026 at $873,376.

She said financial projections for the next three years show less revenue and reduced carryovers.

Emerine said the fire department needs between $100,000 and $150,000 per month to operate at status quo.