“We are doing everything we can to protect the life and safety of everyone who comes through our district, and we are mindful of the fiscal responsibility.” COJFD Fire Chief Mark McCann
CENTERBURG — The Central Ohio Joint Fire District is asking voters to approve a 5.5-mill replacement levy for fire and EMS services when they go to the polls May 2.
According to the Knox County Board of Elections, the three-year levy will generate $938,000 annually. The estimated tax rate is $193 for every $100,000 in value.
“Our collection rate since I have been here historically is about 96 percent,” Fire Chief Mark McCann said. “We are very proud of that. We have a district that has people that are very respectful of paying their taxes.
“In turn, I budget to 92 percent,” he added.
The levy is a replacement levy, which means the millage applies to current property valuations. In McCann’s case, that equates to an additional $15 per half year.
“That’s less than half a tank of gas,” he said.
In addition to the replacement operations levy, the fire district has a .575-mill levy that pays the mortgage payment on the fire station and a 5.95-mill levy that also pays for operations. The 5.5-mill and 5.95-mill levies account for 90 percent of COJFD’s operating budget.
“This levy, as far as I can remember, has been replaced at the same millage. It’s probably the levy that started the district, and it is vital to our district,” McCann said.
“If we lost any millage, it means we would lose people,” said Tom Stewart, COJFD Fire Board member and village councilman.
Of the department’s 2023 $1.8 million operating budget, almost $1.4 million goes toward base salaries and pensions.
COJFD has 17 full-time and nine part-time firefighters. McCann said that if the levy does not pass, staffing would be cut in half, returning the department to 2000 staffing levels.
“The problem with cutting staff is you are going to cut your EMS revenue, too,” he said. “We wouldn’t have enough people to cover our runs in the district.”
The department’s volume is 1,300 to 1,400 runs a year, with numbers trending toward the higher end. Five years ago, it was about 1,000 runs a year.
“Our runs increased 12 to 13 percent this year, and our staff stayed the same,” McCann said.
“We want to keep staffing levels where we are at and try to maintain competitiveness. Recruitment and retention in the fire service post-COVID is difficult,” he said.
After the recent ratification of the union contract, the hourly rate for COJFD firefighter/paramedics is $20.02 after four years.
In comparison, Mount Vernon’s firefighter/paramedics make $24.16 after four years. The top rate for a non-firefighter paramedic at BST&G in Sunbury is $21.81 in 2023.
Referencing the college football and basketball portals, McCann said, “We have created our own portal called lateral transfers. If you have four years of experience, BST&G will accept you at Step 4 rather than having you start at the beginning [starting] salary.
“You are looking at a very competitive fire service post-COVID, and really, pre-COVID,” he continued. “We’ve had to bring up our salaries.”
The contract rates represent a 4 percent increase, the first raise in two-and-a-half years.
Milford and Hilliar townships, along with the Village of Centerburg, comprise the fire district. South Bloomfield Township in Morrow County contracts with COJFD for coverage.
COJFD’s coverage area includes two high schools, three nursing centers, and the recently opened Centerburg Health & Wellness Center operated by Knox Community Hospital.
“People often ask what we are doing to reduce costs,” McCann said. “In the three years since I’ve been here, we’ve received $400,000 in grant money.”
He is in the process of applying for a $700,000 grant which would cover the cost of three firefighters for three years.
Additionally, McCann has started a capital improvements budget to which the department contributes $150,000 a year. The goal is to finance as little as possible.
“I am very proud of the money we have saved. We are paying cash for the medic arriving in a few weeks. By saving $400,000 to $500,000 for the new fire truck, we only have to finance $200,000 to $300,000,” he said.
“We want to save, save, save so we can get some of these bigger items,” he continued. “We are doing everything we can to protect the life and safety of everyone who comes through our district, and we are mindful of the fiscal responsibility.”
The deadline to register to vote in the May 2 primary/special election is April 3. Early voting begins April 4.
