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Council asks administration for 90-day report on potential 'lift assistance' fee for fire department
Summary
After committee discussion and a friendly amendment, council directed the administration to prepare a report within 90 days assessing the feasibility of a 'lift assistance' fee through the Cincinnati Fire Department, citing union testimony and concerns about discouraging calls for help.
Cincinnati City Council voted to ask the administration to prepare a report within 90 days to assess whether a 'lift assistance fee' administered through the Cincinnati Fire Department is feasible.
Council members said the measure in committee was framed as a report request, not immediate policy, and noted testimony from the firefighters' union (Local 48) about operational impacts. Members discussed potential unintended consequences, including the risk that visible fees might discourage residents from calling for help. Several council members asked the administration to clarify the city's role compared with the state's responsibilities and to identify staffing and capacity implications.
Councilmember remarks made clear the motion was for a feasibility report only; the item was amended to emphasize that the goal is information gathering rather than immediate implementation. Administration officials and councilmembers said they would seek to ensure the final report protects access to emergency services while identifying any bad actors who might be imposing undue burdens on the fire department.
The motion directing the report was adopted by roll call. The council asked for delineation of state versus city roles and for clarity on how any fee would be structured, if recommended.
