Budget cuts coming to Bath Township Fire Dept.

BATH TOWNSHIP — The Bath Township Fire Department is planning steep budget cuts following a failed levy campaign.

Voters narrowly rejected the 2.5-mill additional levy, which the township trustees placed on the ballot this November to raise an additional $740,000 per year and stave off a financial crisis, by a 46-vote margin last Tuesday.

Fire Chief Joseph Kitchen sent a list of anticipated budget cuts to staff Tuesday, including plans to scale back part-time hours, reduce overtime and impose a wage freeze for non-bargaining employees.

“We are saddened and disappointed that our fire levy was unsuccessful,” Kitchen said in a prepared statement last Tuesday. “Unfortunately, this will now force us to make some very tough decisions which may negatively affect not only our firefighters, but also our Bath community.

“I am heartbroken for our dedicated employees and for our entire township,” he said.

The township fire department has not passed a new levy for 19 years, Kitchen said.

Union President Jared Jenkins raised safety concerns about the budget cuts, particularly the township’s plans to reduce minimum staffing levels to two firefighters per shift, as well as plans to eliminate overtime, forgo routine maintenance and leave an open paramedic job vacant.

“Your Bath Township Professional Firefighters will continue to work tirelessly with our elected officials to ensure the township residents have (the) ability to vote on these important issues as soon as possible and let the township residents decide if these cuts should only be temporary,” Jenkins said in a letter to the public and news media.

Anticipated cuts outlined in the memo include:

• Incremental cuts to part-time hours starting Dec. 1 until all part-time hours are eliminated, except for call-ins to assist with second-alarm or higher fires;

• Reinstation of an order lowering full-time minimum staffing levels from three to two firefighters starting Nov. 16;

• Elimination of off-duty call-back system to reduce overtime pay, which will only be available for off-duty officers called in to assist with second-alarm or higher emergencies;

• Elimination of department-wide meetings and trainings;

• Remove all employees from the Allen County hazmat team;

• Elimination of off-duty participation in community events to curb overtime expenses;

• Elimination of non-emergent apparatus repairs or maintenance;

• No additional staffing due to weather or the 2024 solar eclipse;

• Elimination the Boy Scouts and Fire Explorer program;

• Hiring freeze for vacant paramedic position;

• All expenses exceeding $1,000 will require trustee approval;

• Cap secretary hours at 16 hours per week;

• Wage freeze for all non-bargaining employees;

• Utilities and emergency repairs are the only approved facility expenses;

• No stocking supplies, which will be ordered on an “immediate need-only” basis;

• Requests for EMS standby are only available for on-duty personnel to reduce overtime;

• Investigations involving civilian deaths or injuries will be turned over to the state fire marshal, while other investigations will be conducted by on-duty personnel;

• No overtime hours approved for fall and spring fire hydrant maintenance, which will be conducted when three or more firefighters are on duty.