Formal agreement with Miami University puts fire department funding one step closer

The Oxford Fire Department is on its way to filling a budget shortfall of $24 million in the next 10 years after Miami University formally signed off on a funding agreement with the city.

At a meeting in late June, Miami's Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide $1.27 million per year to Oxford's Fire and EMS fund for 10 years starting in 2025. The agreement is contingent on the city passing a Fire and EMS levy this November.

The proposed levy, which would last for 10 years and cost property owners $91 per $100,000 in appraised value, would generate an estimated $1.285 million yearly according to the Butler County Auditor.

In a statement, the university called the agreement "the product of our strongly shared value that public safety services are the cornerstone of a healthy community."

The Trustees' MOU is also contingent on Oxford committing to $270,000 in economic development funding each year. The goal is to broaden the city's tax-base to provide the necessary fire department funding after the agreement expires.

"[The agreement] is also an indication of our jointly-held belief that economic development is essential for creating jobs, enhancing the quality of life, and providing the resources necessary for sustainable community growth," the university statement read.

Staffing issues and overtime drive need for additional funding

OFD Chief John Detherage says the need for funding at the fire department is dire. The staff currently includes 12 full-time employees, including three who were hired this year and are still going through training. On any given shift, four employees are on the clock.

Assistant city manager Jessica Greene said the city had to move $400,000 from its general fund to the fire and EMS fund in order to hire new employees and manage the volume of calls.

With the number of calls the department has to respond to each day, especially while Miami students are on campus, Detherage said his staff rarely gets to sleep during each 24-hour shift.

"It's tough to do that every third day, go for 24 hours with no sleep," Detherage said. "It's physical and emotional. You just see the guys get bored down. Their families are not happy with them, because they're always working, and when they are home they're sleeping."

OFD has lost several employees in the last few years, compounding overtime expectations. Because of how few people the department employs right now, Detherage said if they have to respond to two emergencies at once, the department can't send a fire engine to either because it has to prioritize sending an ambulance to each.

"We've been really lucky up to this point," Detherage said, "and I just don't know how much longer our luck can hold out on that. It will catch up with us. The people deserve to have a better level of service."

If the levy is approved, opening up the funding from Miami as well, Detherage said the department could hire more people and demand less overtime from the current staff. He said the department could also run two primary ambulances, one to cover each half of the district, with more staff.

If the levy fails, Detherage said he thinks the department will struggle to keep people on staff.

"I would expect that the people that have been here for a while probably won't stay," Detherage said. "There's so many jobs available in this industry in the area right now, I'm afraid that the few experienced guys we have left will go someplace else."

Economic development

The $270,000 per year economic development funding was not part of the city's original conversations with Miami. Greene said it came up after the board's finance committee raised concerns about the need to expand Oxford's tax base for future fire and EMS funding.

The university initially proposed having $270,000 of its yearly contribution go toward economic development initiatives, but Greene said OFD needs the full amount. The agreement passed by the board requires the city to commit to putting $270,000 from its own funds into economic development annually in order to receive the fire department funding from the university.

"The city is already doing around $270,000 a year or more (in economic development)," Greene said. "So our agreement really is to not decrease it, to not cut it. It is to continue to invest at this level."

In addition to committing to the funding, Greene said the city would meet with the university monthly to share details on the initiatives the city is working on. Current economic development initiatives include investing $50,000 to develop an economic strategic plan, working to bring an Amtrak station to Oxford and helping develop the Lee and Rosemary Fisher College@Elm Innovation Center.

The economic development agreement will go to city council for a vote in the coming months. The fire levy was filed with the Butler County Board of Elections on June 5 and is awaiting certification.