Pass levy to increase Carlisle Township fire staffing

The Carlisle Township Fire Department is busy and getting busier by the year. In 2023, the department's members responded to 803 calls, Fire Chief Steve Higgins told us. Last year, the department went on 902 calls. This year, Higgins said, he expects the number of calls to surpass 1,000. "It's just gotten to the point where we're just too busy," Higgins said. Right now, the Fire Department has four full-time firefighters and about 20 volunteers, who also receive some compensation. However, Higgins said, the department should have around 28 volunteers, but it's getting harder to find people who are able to devote as much time to the department. The solution, he said, is to hire a few part-time firefighters to help round out the shifts. Ideally, those part-timers would have full-time jobs with other fire departments and work for the township on their days off, Higgins said. Unfortunately, the department's budget, which is about $750,000 this year, isn't large enough to cover that level of additional staffing, he said. To generate the necessary funding, township officials are asking voters to replace an existing five-year, 2.25-mill levy, which was last renewed in 2020 with support from 72.6 percent of voters. (Unlike a straight renewal levy, a replacement levy taxes property at its current value.) The 2.25-mill levy, which brings in around $418,000 annually, is one of two levies that fund the Fire Department's operations. Were the replacement levy, identified on the fall ballot as Issue 13 to pass, it would generate a little more than $667,000 annually. The department also gets about $285,000 annually from a five-year, 1.5-mill levy, which was last renewed in 2022 with support from 77.5 percent of voters. Additional funding comes from charging nonresidents who need the Fire Department's services, which include emergency medical services, but that only brings in between $15,000 and $20,000 per year, Higgins said. The department has made good use of pandemic relief money, including replacing its outdated radios, but that funding stream has been exhausted. The department also has received grants over the years, but those are usually one-off infusions of money for specific purposes. If the department is to keep up with the growing volume of calls, it will need more firefighters and reliable funding to pay for them. Replacing a property tax levy is best way to lock in funding for the department. Right now, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 pays roughly $48 per year, according to Lorain County Auditor Craig Snodgrass' office. Were Issue 13 to pass, the owner of that same home would pay an additional $31, for a total of around $79 per year. Yes, property taxes have climbed in large part because of rising property values, but it's also important to make sure the Fire Department has the staffing necessary to meet the needs of today. "We've just kind of come to a crossroads where we have to invest in staffing to better serve residents," Higgins said. Issue 13 is a reasonable request that will help make Carlisle Township safer for residents and visitors alike.