Fairfield Township trustees debate $2 million repairs to Fire Station 2 as budget shortfalls push levy and TIF choices to the fore

Trustees for Fairfield Township debated whether to move forward immediately with about $2 million in repairs to Fire Station 2 or delay work because of looming budget shortfalls, ultimately agreeing to defer a final decision and send the consultant contract to legal.

The discussion, which opened when staff said a design agreement arrived after the agenda deadline, centered on two choices: proceed with the repairs now or conserve cash to cover staffing and operating deficits. “I think the larger issue becomes, do we want to, as a township, put $2,000,000 into a fire station when we have budget shortfalls,” a staff member said during the meeting, arguing that trustees also must weigh whether to put a levy before voters.

The board did not vote on the consultant agreement. Instead trustees asked that the agreement be circulated to the township’s legal counsel for review and asked staff to return to the board with financing options — including paying cash or financing over several years — at the May 13 meeting. “You can have that ready for the thirteenth,” one trustee said, and administrators agreed to prepare options.

Why it matters: Staff told trustees the township is facing multi-year deficits in public safety and operations. At the meeting staff described growing gaps if no revenue changes are made: a projected shortfall in the fire department budget next year and larger cumulative deficits in subsequent years. Trustees framed the station repairs as both a capital-maintenance need and a budget-choice question: spend reserves now on capital repairs or preserve cash to cover salaries and overtime.

What trustees said and directed - Several trustees, including Trustee McAbee and Trustee Birding, said they favored doing at least the essential repairs to preserve the township’s investment in the building and the safety of staff. “I would like to get the building fixed,” one trustee said. - The Fire Chief told the board the building needs repair and supported taking the issue to voters if necessary. “No no question the building needs fixed,” the chief said. - The board agreed not to vote on the contract at this meeting because the document arrived after the agenda deadline. Trustees asked staff to send the contract to legal counsel, provide the board copies, and present a set of financing scenarios (cash, 5‑year financing, longer-term financing) at the May 13 meeting.

Discussion context and constraints: Trustees noted there is no guarantee a levy would pass, pointing to recent close votes on other levies. Several trustees urged planning for both scenarios — what to do if a levy fails and how to protect cash while addressing immediate building needs — and requested finance options that preserve the township’s cash position and allow for some capital work without jeopardizing payroll.

Next steps: Staff will forward the consultant agreement to legal, circulate it to trustees, and prepare financing scenarios for the May 13 board meeting. No motion or formal appropriation for the station repairs was made at this meeting.

Ending: The board left the question open, with trustees divided on timing but united on the need to protect both staff and capital assets. They asked for more complete information before deciding whether to proceed, to put a levy on the ballot, or to use other fund sources.