10/12/2026
🚒 PLEASANT TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT
Understanding the Needs of Your Fire Department, the Cost of Emergency Services & the Proposed Fire Levy
As our community discusses the upcoming fire levy, we believe it is important to provide residents with factual information about the current needs, challenges, and operating costs of Pleasant Township Fire Department.
We understand that property taxes affect our residents, families, farmers, and local businesses. We also recognize our responsibility to be transparent about how public funds are used and the financial challenges involved in maintaining emergency services.
Like many departments across Ohio, we are experiencing increasing equipment costs, aging apparatus, growing emergency service demands, and challenges recruiting and retaining highly qualified personnel.
We would like to share some of these challenges, explain the costs involved, and highlight the measures we are taking to remain fiscally responsible.
1. FIREFIGHTER SAFETY EQUIPMENT — SCBA REPLACEMENT
Our department currently maintains 21 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units built to older 2002 and 2007 NFPA standards.
These are the air packs firefighters depend on when entering burning structures, smoke-filled buildings, and other hazardous environments.
Although our in-house technician has done an outstanding job inspecting, servicing, and maintaining this equipment, the units are aging and replacement is becoming necessary.
Modern SCBA equipment incorporates updated safety features and technology designed to better protect firefighters.
A single new SCBA unit costs more than $9,000.
Replacing our current inventory of 21 units would cost at least $189,000, not including potential additional equipment and related expenses.
We have applied for numerous grant opportunities, but available funding is increasingly limited and competitive. Unfortunately, our applications have not been successful.
We will continue pursuing grants and alternative funding, but cannot depend solely on grant awards to meet essential equipment replacement needs.
2. MAINTAINING HIGHLY QUALIFIED EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
Pleasant Township is fortunate to have a highly trained group of firefighters and officers.
Our full-time personnel hold Firefighter II (240-hour), Paramedic, and Fire Inspector certifications, along with extensive continuing education.
Many also possess additional qualifications in hazardous materials response, technical rescue, advanced rescue operations, and fire and EMS instruction.
These certifications represent hundreds, and in many cases thousands, of hours of education and hands-on training.
However, retaining experienced emergency personnel has become increasingly challenging.
Larger departments and surrounding agencies often offer higher wages, more competitive benefits, and additional career opportunities.
We are competing for the same qualified firefighters and paramedics while working within the financial limitations of a township budget.
Our personnel are one of our most valuable resources. Maintaining a trained, experienced workforce is essential to providing consistent fire and emergency medical services.
3. AGING FIRE APPARATUS & INCREASING REPLACEMENT COSTS
Our fire engines continue to accumulate mileage and operating hours as they respond to emergencies throughout our service area.
2016 Fire Engine
- 60,096 miles
- 3,973 operating hours
2005 Fire Engine
- 68,220 miles
- 4,344 operating hours
- Refurbished approximately nine years ago
Our 2005 engine is now more than 20 years old. Its age and continued frontline use make future replacement planning increasingly important under nationally recognized fire apparatus safety and maintenance guidance.
While proper maintenance and refurbishment can extend the useful life of apparatus, they cannot eliminate the need for eventual replacement.
The cost of a new fire engine now exceeds $1 MILLION — before adding the necessary firefighting equipment.
In addition to these substantial costs, the estimated delivery timeframe for newly built fire apparatus is approximately 1–2 years, depending on the manufacturer, specifications, and production schedule.
This means that even after funding is secured and an apparatus is ordered, a department may wait a significant amount of time before the new vehicle can be placed into service.
Waiting until a vehicle becomes unreliable or can no longer be maintained could leave a department facing significant operational challenges while awaiting a replacement.
Planning ahead is not simply about purchasing new equipment. It is about maintaining reliable emergency response capabilities while avoiding unexpected financial burdens.
4. AMBULANCE REPLACEMENT — EXPLORING COST-SAVING ALTERNATIVES
Our 2018 medic unit currently has more than 91,280 miles.
The current cost of a new ambulance exceeds $400,000 per unit.
Rather than immediately purchasing an entirely new ambulance, we are exploring the possibility of re-chassising our existing unit.
This would involve replacing the vehicle chassis while retaining the usable patient compartment, provided it meets applicable requirements.
This approach could potentially save the township approximately 50% compared with purchasing a completely new ambulance, depending on final specifications and costs.
However, re-chassising is subject to vehicle age, condition, manufacturer requirements, and other applicable standards. Delaying this decision could limit our available options.
This is one example of how we are exploring alternatives that may reduce long-term costs to taxpayers.
5. RESPONSIBLE PLANNING & STEWARDSHIP OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS
Our department continually evaluates ways to operate efficiently while maintaining the equipment, staffing, and training necessary to provide emergency services.
Some of those efforts include:
- Maintaining and repairing existing equipment whenever feasible
- Refurbishing apparatus when practical
- Applying for grants and alternative funding
- Exploring ambulance re-chassis options instead of full replacement
- Planning for future capital equipment needs
- Investing in employee training and retention
- Evaluating operational expenses and opportunities for cost savings
We recognize that our residents work hard for their money, and we take our responsibility to use public funding wisely seriously.
Our goal is not simply to replace equipment because it is getting older. Our goal is to make informed, financially responsible decisions while maintaining the safety and reliability of our emergency services.
6. WHAT DOES A FIRE LEVY MEAN FOR PROPERTY OWNERS?
We understand that one of the most important questions residents have is:
"How much will this cost me?"
In Ohio, residential property taxes are generally calculated using 35% of a property's appraised market value.
For illustration, an additional 2-mill property tax levy would have the following estimated cost for a home with an appraised market value of $100,000:
- Appraised market value: $100,000
- Taxable assessed value: $35,000
- Additional levy: 2 mills
- Estimated annual cost: $70
- Estimated monthly cost: $5.83
- Estimated daily cost: Approximately 19 cents
These figures are an example of how an additional 2-mill levy is calculated. They do not represent the total property tax bill or include existing fire levies. Actual costs depend on the official levy terms, property valuation, and applicable exemptions or adjustments.
WHAT ABOUT EXISTING FIRE LEVIES?
Pleasant Township already receives funding through existing fire protection levies.
According to Fairfield County's 2025 tax-year budget commission records, Pleasant Township has 11.0 voted mills listed for fire protection, with estimated annual revenue of approximately $2.05 million.
It is important to understand that voted millage does not necessarily equal the effective tax rate homeowners currently pay. Tax reduction factors and other adjustments can affect individual tax bills.
Existing fire levy revenues help fund the personnel, equipment, training, vehicles, and daily operations necessary to provide emergency services.
For individual property estimates and official levy information, residents are encouraged to consult the Fairfield County Auditor's Office.
7. LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
Fire and EMS services have changed significantly over the years.
The costs of emergency vehicles, protective equipment, medical supplies, training, insurance, and personnel continue to rise.
To put some of these expenses into perspective:
- New fire engine: Over $1 million, before equipment
- New ambulance: Over $400,000 per unit
- New SCBA: Over $9,000 per unit
- Replacement of 21 SCBA units: At least $189,000
- New apparatus delivery: Approximately 1–2 years
These figures illustrate why maintaining emergency services requires significant financial planning, even when departments are working to extend equipment life and minimize expenses.
At the same time, emergency service demands place additional wear on vehicles and equipment.
We recognize that the financial challenges facing fire departments are not unique to Pleasant Township. Across Ohio, departments are working to balance increasing operational costs with the financial realities facing the communities they serve.
These challenges require long-term planning, careful budgeting, and ongoing evaluation of departmental needs.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
We understand that discussions involving taxes and public funding are important, and residents deserve clear, factual information when evaluating these issues.
We believe transparency, accountability, and open communication are essential to maintaining the trust of the community we serve.
Our department remains committed to maintaining safe and dependable emergency services while continuing to seek opportunities to reduce expenses, extend equipment life, and make responsible financial decisions.
As residents consider the upcoming levy, we want to ensure accurate information is available about our equipment, personnel, operating costs, and future needs.
We welcome respectful questions and conversations and appreciate the opportunity to share more about the department serving our community.
Thank you to the residents of Pleasant Township for taking the time to learn about your fire department.
Pleasant Township Fire Department
Committed to service, safety, and fiscal responsibility.
