Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodlawn creates ambulance grant fund, approves firefighter bonuses and budget changes
Summary
Council approved an ordinance to establish an ambulance transport industry grant fund, amended appropriations to add about $83,000 for firefighter retention bonuses, and passed related resolutions and the 2025 tax budget; staff said state law changes could generate additional EMS payments beginning in 2026.
The Village of Woodlawn council on Aug. 27 approved several budget and grant-related measures aimed at supporting emergency medical services and village operations.
Council passed ordinance 24-20-24 to establish an "ambulance transport industry grant fund" within the village budget. Law Director described the fund as necessary to account for new EMS-related revenue streams tied to state-level changes.
Village Manager Tim Engle told council that Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation directing the Medicaid director to implement an ambulance supplemental payment program for public ambulance providers. Engle said the village attended a stakeholders meeting and is working with MediCount (its medical billing provider) to enroll; he said enrollment will require local legislation and a contract change with MediCount. "We will need to pass legislation to be enrolled in the program," Engle said. Preliminary estimates discussed with MediCount indicated the village could generate more than $250,000 in additional EMS-related payments in future years if enrolled.
Council also passed ordinance 25-20-24 to amend 2024 appropriations — increasing appropriations by $83,000 to account for a fire department grant — and adopted resolution 26-20-24 authorizing payment of retention bonuses to eligible fire personnel from that grant. The law director said the grant is intended for firefighter retention bonuses; council recorded roll-call 'Aye' votes on both the ordinance and the resolution.
Separately, the council adopted resolution 29-20-24, approving and adopting the village's 2025 tax budget for submission to the county auditor.
What happens next: staff will implement the ambulance grant fund accounting, pursue enrollment in the state supplemental program (pending necessary contract and legislative steps), and disburse firefighter retention bonuses as authorized.
