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Olmsted Falls fire budget keeps overtime cushion, flags staffing risk and equipment needs
Summary
Fire Chief Matt Sheehan told the Finance Committee the 2026 fire budget holds a $130,000 overtime cushion because two members are expected to take FMLA; the department also recommends raising ambulance fees for non-residents and has $313,000 available in Fund 106 for equipment and capital.
Fire Chief Matt Sheehan told the Olmsted Falls Finance Committee on Nov. 20 that the draft 2026 fire budget keeps a larger overtime allocation to cover anticipated family medical leave and other staffing pressures. "For 2025 there is approximately $106,000 that can be earned by full time personnel... Next year they can get up to $110,000, if all is taken contractually. It is budgeted at $130,000 due to the fact that two members will go out on FMLA in 2026," Sheehan said.
Sheehan and Finance Director Tom Reynolds walked the committee through the fund structure for fire wages. Reynolds said $460,000 of full-time wages are posted to Fund 105 (a property-tax-supported levy) while the $120,000 shown in Fund 010 is the General Fund balance for the department. Sheehan warned that concurrent FMLA leaves or an injury could place the department under severe strain without contract addenda allowing part-time personnel to assume higher responsibility.
On equipment and capital, Sheehan said Fund 106 holds about $378,000 with $65,000 encumbered, leaving roughly $313,000 available for tools and apparatus. He listed a $109,000 lease payment for a fire truck and smaller planned purchases such as a K650 saw (about $3,000) and a three-bank battery-operated exhaust fan system (about $7,000). He also described plans to negotiate maintenance agreements for life-paks and electric cots with vendors such as Stryker/Physio Control and lowered the prior apparatus-maintenance estimate to $40,000 following the new pumper purchase.
Sheehan also outlined recommended ambulance billing changes from the city’s vendor, Great Lakes Billing, noting the increases would apply to non-residents. "We presently charge $14.00 per loaded mile and the recommendation would be to increase to $17.00 per loaded mile," he said. He reported the city expects more than $400,000 in transport reimbursements to return to the General Fund this year, up from $222,968 in 2019, citing higher transport volume and modest fee increases.
The committee did not take a final vote on the fire budget at the meeting. Council members asked for clarity on fund allocations and the potential fiscal impact of staffing shortfalls; Reynolds said those discussions and any recommended fee changes would be considered by the incoming administration.
