Firefighter union proposes township contract solution

An unofficial proposal has been given for the consideration of area township trustees for EMS and Fire Services, by the Hillsboro Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2972. The proposal starts at $40 per person for 2013, and increases to $50 per person through 2021. 

According to a letter that begins the 14-page proposal, signed by Local 2972 president David Snider, Jr., "The enclosed document is intended to inform the recipient of how the city of Hillsboro, Ohio can provide quality fire and EMS coverage to the surrounding townships. The information enclosed is not intended in any way to be considered negotiating with the city or township by the Hillsboro Fire Fighters IAFF 2972. The intent of the current information provided in this packet is to show that the city of Hillsboro can provide the current service at an affordable cost to the townships. The figures provided were gathered by the IAFF from the city of Hillsboro and should be considered accurate." 

Legal counsel to the townships, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said that she had received a copy of the proposal, and she said that she would forward it to the trustees of Liberty, Jackson, New Market and Washington townships, who are negotiating with the city for EMS and fire services. 

"I have been given this proposal, and I will give it to all the townships," Collins said. "But we don't know if it's an official proposal because we understand the city hasn't actually made the proposal." 

The last official action by the city was on May 21, when the finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council recommended 3-0 that the city reject a offer from Liberty, Jackson, New Market and Paint townships for a contract for three years, at $30 per person. 

Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Rick Giroux told The Highland County Press that he did receive the packet on Friday, but that he has not had an opportunity to read it.

When asked about the "stalled" status of the negotiations, Giroux said that negotiations between the city and the townships are continuing.

"I don't think negotiations have stalled. I think each side was looking at all their possibilities and options," Giroux said. "I think the mayor (Drew Hastings) was considering his options. I'm not quite sure where he is going from here. We did have some discussions on that. I'm not sure if he is considering a counter at this time, or what that would be. That is subject to be discussion between the mayor and myself."

Collins said, "As far as I know, the townships have not received a counter offer from the city, and there have been no negotiations since the townships gave them the proposal (on May 17). There have been no negotiations with the city, as far as I know."

The trustees had been meeting with city representatives on a weekly basis for several months, but Collins said they have not met since before the trustees submitted their proposal.

On June 2, Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings attended a special meeting of the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District in Greenfield, which was held for the purpose of discussing potential expansion of the district. Hastings was invited to go into executive session with the board, and no action was taken following the board's exit into regular session.

Snider wrote in the letter, "This is no way intended to be construed as bargaining by the Hillsboro firefighters in regard to wage, hours or terms and conditions to employment. Nothing within is infringing on or modifies the bargaining agreement between the city of Hillsboro and the IAFF or any part of the Ohio Revised Code section 4117." 

Firefighter Ryan Passet, the secretary/treasurer for IAFF Local 2972, said that he wrote the proposal, and it was submitted to the Hillsboro administration, all members of Hillsboro City Council, Collins, and that copies were made for all the negotiating boards of trustees.

"My first reason, and main reason, for doing this, was we have been meeting with an outside (law firm, Blaugrund, Herbert, Kessler, Miller, Myers, Postalakis, Inc.) the city hired, for about once a month," Passet said. "We had a meeting with them last week. I asked the city's labor attorney if the city would entertain some sort of plan that the township liked, that would pretty much prove that the fire department funds itself through the earnings tax, the township contracts and the squad billing, if they would consider it. They stated, 'We have yet to see anything like that.' I knew it could be done, and I said I'd have it to them two days later."

Passet said that he got numbers from the city and county auditors offices and compiled the proposal on his days off.

"The second reason I wanted to do this is because the negotiations with the city and the townships have stalled," Passet said. "The townships made an officer, and the city has given them no counter offer. We know what it takes to get these townships covered. We've done it for over 30 years. We don't want to see this fall apart. We are extremely concerned, not only with the safety of the residents of the city of Hillsboro, but with the township residents, and the safety of the firefighters, and not just Hillsboro firefighters."

"The partnership has been around for 30 years because it has worked," Passet said. "We've been messing around with this for six months, and obviously we're afraid that the township will bail and go elsewhere. I don't feel the firefighters have taken offense to their actions. We understand how it works. We've just put together a packet that we think is doable, that would work great for both parties. A big thing that we kept hearing from the townships was, 'We want to know how much it costs,' or 'How much does it take to actually run the department.' The city would say, 'We're still working on that number.' Here are some numbers."

In May, the Hillsboro administration laid off the volunteer and part-time Hillsboro firefighters. With four people on per shift, remaining full-time firefighters said that they cannot enter a structure fire with that type of staffing because they are required to have two firefighters in the structure, two outside, and one on the truck.

"We're at dangerous levels right now," Passet said. "It takes a certain amount to do the job. But we're not going to be staffed at the level three or four years ago. I think it's fair. I think it shows what it costs to run a department, and it's proof that it's doable, and it gives both sides information they claim they don't have."

At the end of the day, Passet said, they are looking out for the safety of everyone in the county.

"Day in and day out, our two biggest priorities are to take care of the people you serve, then you take care of each other and yourselves."

According to the document: 

• 2013: $40 [$40 x 4 percent = $1.60]  $41.60 reflects a 4-percent inflation increase. 
• 2014: $40 [$41.60 x 4 percent = $1.66] $43.26 is reflected in 2016 to 2018.
• 2015: $40 [$43.26 x 4 percent = $1.73] $44.99 ($45) is price of $45 per resident. 

• 2016: $45 [$45 x 3.5 percent = $1.58] $46.58 is a 3.5-percent inflation increase. 
• 2017: $45 [$46.58 x 3.5 percent = $1.63] $48.21 is reflected in 2019 to 2021. 
• 2018: $45 [48.21 x 3.5 percent = $49.90] $49.90 ($50) is the price of $50 per resident. 

• 2019: $50
• 2020: $50
• 2021: $50

"Townships should have enough additional money left in reserve from past years rollovers to give themselves two years to pass any needed additional levies," according to the proposal. 

• 9-year contract with built-in inflation increases to cover inflation and rising costs of fuel, etc. 

• Increase would only take place at three-year marks, which would allow townships to "pool" carryover money for three years before each increase. This would provide a "safety net" for the township fire and EMS funds. 

• Cost per person starts out at a rate comparable to the lowest cost per person of any department in Highland County. (Southern Highland Joint - Mowrystown) at $40 per resident. Comparatively, Hillsboro fire department is the only 24 hour per day/7 day per week staffed full paramedic department in Highland County. This is the highest level of care available in EMS. Hillsboro fire department also offers the most resources. 

• Final cost per person at the end of the contract will be the second most affordable option in the entire county at $50 per resident. 

The following are a breakdown of current costs and projected costs: 

• Hamer: population is 680; EMS billing received for 2011 is $8,706.55; revenue at $40 is $27,200; at $45 it is $30,600; at $50 is $34,000.

• Jackson: population is 1,094; EMS billing received for 2011 is $15,423.04; revenue at $40 is $43,760; at $45 it is $49,230; at $50 is $54,700.

• Liberty: population is 3,637; EMS billing received for 2011 is $54,826.42; revenue at $40 is $145,480; at $45 it is $163,665; at $50 is $181,850.

• New Market: population is 1,888; EMS billing received for 2011 is $21,890.77; revenue at $40 is $75,520; at $45 it is $84,960; at $50 is $94,400.

• Washington: population is 1,123; EMS billing received for 2011 is $13,582.22; revenue at $40 is $44,920; at $45 it is $50,535; at $50 is $56,150.

The following is an illustration of what the breakdown would be for the proposed 2013 to 2021 Hillsboro fire department budgets. This illustration is reflecting the financial information provided from above and in this packet: 

• City tax from 2013-2021 is $823,000.
• EMS billing from 2012 to 2021 is $409,000.
• Township contracts from 2013-2015 is $336,880; 2016-2018 is $378,990; 2019-2021 is $421,100. 
• Total fire department budget available funds is 2013-2015 is $1,568,880; 2016-2018 is $1,610,990; 2019-2021 is $1,653,100.

"These budget amounts reflect operational budgets equal to and above past fire department budgets and would enable Hillsboro fire department to bring back part-time paid and volunteer firefighters. This would allow for adequate minimal staffing, provide, at most time, five firefighters on shift plus volunteers. This not only would be safer for the residents of Hillsboro, but all the townships covered by Hillsboro Fire Department. This would also ensure a much safer work environment for all Hillsboro volunteer firefighters," according to the proposal.  

The proposal also notes proposed and actual budgets from 2009 to 2012.

In 2011, according to the proposal, the total EMS runs for all "townships and cover runs" (and not just the contracted townships) was 686, and 1,374 for the city. 

In 2011, according to the proposal, the total fire and rescue runs for all "township and cover runs" (and not just the contracted townships) was 175, and 159 in the city.

The breakdown of the three-year proposed budget from 2013-2015 at $40 per resident:

• City tax: $823,000 (52 percent)
• EMS billing: $409,000 (26 percent)
• Township contracts: $336,880 (22 percent)
• Total fire department budget: $1,568,880

2016-2018 at $45 per person: 

• City tax: $823,000 (51 percent)
• EMS billing: $409,000 (25 percent)
• Township contracts: $378,990 (24 percent)
• Total fire department budget: $1,610,990 

2019-2021 at $50 per person

• City tax: $823,000 (50 percent)
• EMS billing: $409,000 (25 percent)
• Township contracts: $421,100 (25 percent)
• Total fire department budget: $1,653,100

The EMS billing breakdown: 

• City of Hillsboro: $279,007.75 (68 percent)
• Townships: $114,429 (28 percent)
• Cover runs: $15,510.24 (4 percent)
• Total: $408,946.99

Hillsboro Fire Department fire and EMS run breakdown:

• City of Hillsboro: 1,533 (64 percent)
• Townships and cover runs 861: (36 percent)
• Total fire and EMS runs: 2,394

The following mills are collected by the county fire departments: 

• Southern Highland Joint Fire District (Mowrystown): 3 mills
• Lynchburg Area Joint Fire and Ambulance District: 4.3 mills (1.33 bond not included)
• Highland County North Joint EMS/Fire District: 3.95 mills (1.74 bond not included)
• Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District: 5.5 mills
• Clinton-Highland Joint Fire District: 4.3 mills.

The townships collect the following mills:

• Hamer: 1.35 mills
• Jackson: 1.5 mills
• New Market: 2 mills (two individual 1-mill levies for a total of 2 mills)
• Paint: 2 mills (two individual 1-mill levies for a total of 2 mills)
• Washington: 1.6 mills (a .6-mill levy, along with a 1-mill levy for a total of 1.6 mills)