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Ross Township officials outline proposed 6.5‑mill fire and EMS levy, cite rising calls and equipment costs
Summary
Ross Township assistant fire chief said Issue 8 would replace a 5.75‑mill levy with a 6.5‑mill levy and fund personnel, equipment and training; officials provided household cost examples and itemized equipment price estimates during a public presentation.
Ross Township fire officials urged voters to approve Issue 8, a proposed 6.5‑mill levy on the Nov. 4 ballot that would replace the township’s existing 5.75‑mill levy, saying it is needed to maintain staffing, equipment and training as call volume and costs rise.
Assistant Chief Jared Morris, a Ross resident and the department’s assistant chief, said the measure is intended to keep the fire and emergency medical services department from falling behind. "Issue 8 is going to be on the November ballot and it is a new 6.5 mil levy. However, it will replace the existing 5.75 mil levy," Morris said, and offered a household example: "it will cost me $1,047 a year. My cost in 2024 was $528." He described the difference as an annual increase of $519.
Morris told the audience that Ross responded to 154 calls in 2024, which he said represented an 18% increase over 2023, and that the majority of the department’s budget—more than 80%—goes to personnel. He said the department is actively pursuing grants and other non‑levy funding where possible but that local tax revenue remains essential to sustain services.
During a question-and-answer period, Morris gave specific examples of equipment costs: outfitting one firefighter with turnout gear (coat, pants, boots, gloves, helmet) costs about $5,000 and the gear is typically replaced after about 10 years; motorized stretchers were described as costing roughly $70,000 each; and replacing aging cardiac monitors could exceed $200,000 to equip multiple units.
Morris also addressed questions about how new construction and property revaluations affect levy revenue. He said the levy would generate a fixed revenue target for the township in the fiscal year after passage and explained that new homes can help reduce the per‑household burden. He noted the county conducts triannual property revaluations that affect assessed values over time.
Organizers said outreach materials about the levy, including a mailed notice, had recently been distributed to residents. Officials urged voters to research the ballot language and consider the levy as a community investment in safety and response capacity before the Nov. 4 election.
The presentation did not include a formal board vote; officials described the levy and answered residents’ questions during the forum.
