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Fire budget reflects lost grant funding; department reports $3.8 million in transport revenue after AMR contract ended
Summary
Akron Fire Department officials told the committee several grants that funded firefighters expired, moving positions to the general fund; department leaders said the city began transporting patients after the AMR contract ended and reported roughly $3.8 million in additional transport revenue.
Akron fire officials briefed the budget and finance committee on grant expirations that previously funded firefighter slots and on operational changes after the city assumed patient transports from AMR.
Why it matters: Like police, the fire department has had portions of staffing paid from federal grants. The expiration or reduction of those grants increases general-fund personnel obligations and affects capital and equipment planning.
Grants and staffing: Chief Henderson and District Chief Kelly said two grants previously funded 25 firefighter positions each; those grants have largely expired. The grant fund for fire still carries funding sufficient to charge four firefighters for the remainder of a closing grant, but most previously grant-funded slots were transferred to the general fund. Staff told the committee the general-fund headcount for fire rises from about 205.5 to roughly 250.5 when those positions are included.
Reimbursements and timing: Staff said last year’s grant fund budgeted about $5.6 million; the upcoming year’s grant budget shows about $528,000. Staff added that some costs paid from the general fund last year are billable under the grant and that the city expects roughly $2 million in reimbursements this year for expenses incurred previously.
Transport revenue after AMR contract: Committee members asked about the workload impacts of canceling the AMR transport contract. Chief Henderson said city fire personnel began performing transports and that “our revenues went up about $3,800,000 for that service,” attributing the revenue to insurance and public-pay collections processed through Life Force, the department’s billing vendor. Staff said billing is processed so residents generally do not receive direct bills; insurance and Medicaid/Medicare are billed. The state is considering changes that staff said could increase collections further.
Equipment, capital and timing: Committee members questioned lower equipment line spending in 2024 and the planned equipment budget for 2025. Staff explained some capital purchases are budgeted in one line (e.g., IT 4 or capital) but recorded on different expenditure lines when invoiced; some purchases are ordered in one year but not delivered or expended until later years. The department and finance staff described an equipment replacement fund intended to hold ordered equipment funding until actual delivery and expenditure.
What was not specified: Exact per-position dollar conversions from grant to general fund were not enumerated on the record. Staff characterized the grant funding changes in broad terms and gave reimbursement and revenue totals but did not provide a complete per-line reconciliation during the discussion.
Next steps: Committee members asked for further detail on overtime comparisons year to year and the timing of reimbursements and capital expenditures.
