CHAMPION — Township trustees at a special meeting Tuesday took the first step to place a 2.65-mill, five-year additional fire levy on the May 5 primary ballot.

Officials said the levy, if passed, will generate an estimated $692,145 annually per year for fire and emergency medical services. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay approximately $93 per year, officials said.

Trustees discussed with 10 residents at the 90-minute meeting the need for the levy’s passage.

Trustees Doug Emerine and Tom Jeffers voted for the 2.65-mill levy, but trustee Rick York voted against it, recommending a higher millage of 2.95 mills.

“We want to provide a quality service to the residents. We need to get the amount of money we need to get what the fire department needs to operate,” York said.

Jeffers said it is important to get the residents’ support for any levy.

Emerine said the levy is needed because there are no funds available to pay the local share for matching grants for the fire department.

Trustees have scheduled a special meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 to give the required second reading for placement of the levy on the ballot. The deadline to get an issue on the May primary is Feb. 1.

Fiscal Officer Laurie Jo Miller said 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.

Fire Chief Tom Dempsey said he kept costs in the fire department under budget and noted there was additional revenue from increased numbers of emergency medical service transports in 2025. He said the carryover helps the department in the new year.

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

Miller said the fire department has additional budgetary needs for equipment and facility updates that the budget cannot support.

Dempsey 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.

Dempsey said the department has three ambulances — one from 2014, another from 2017 and the third from 2023.

Emerine said the 2017 and 2023 ambulances were paid for by COVID-19 money and American Rescue Plan funds at no cost to the township. Miller said a new fire truck would cost $1 million, which could be paid by a loan that would be paid off at $200,000 per year.

Dempsey said if an ambulance were ordered this year, it would take two to three years for delivery. As for the fire facility, Miller said the fire department bay doors from the 1970s need updated.

Dempsey said the call volume for fire and EMS has increased so replacing vehicles and equipment is necessary.

STAFFING AT STATION

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 added to allow for three full-time 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.

“We are the busiest single-station fire department in the county,” Emerine said.

He said the township has the station staffed all the time while other nearby fire departments are only staffed 60% of the time.

The township had to turn down a federal SAFER grant last year because it did not have the matching funds.

Emerine said the township will need to see what funds are generated from the Joint Economic Development District with Warren city for the Mercy Health emergency facility being constructed off Educational Highway in Champion. He said the township also will see what taxes come from the marijuana dispensary, which is expected to open in the spring.

Trustees said if a statewide property tax issue is placed on the November ballot, it is best to get the fire levy on in May. The statewide issue would eliminate property taxes if it passes.