The cut, reducing staff at the station by two, helps the department adjust to the loss of seven part-time firefighters through attrition and the projected loss of three more in coming months, Kidd said. Three firefighters will still staff the station.
“We’re not replacing anyone who leaves because of the uncertainty of future funding,” Kidd said.
On May 7, about 58 percent of voters in the city and township rejected a continuing 4.5 mill levy expected to raise an additional $4.4 million for fire and ambulance service.
The cut caught township officials by surprise.
Trustees Ed Wade and Cathy Anspach said they were unaware of the cut. Administrator Dennis Pickett said he knew fire officials were mulling the staffing shortage, but was unaware the cut had been made at the station, between Ohio 741 and Ohio 48.
“It’s not retaliatory. It’s not monumental. It’s part of running the fire service,” Pickett said.
The cut, begun on May 9 — two days after the levy vote — has no effect on staffing at stations on Ohio 741 in Springboro and Ohio 48, north of Lebanon. However crews from these stations will respond when the Station 22 crew is out on a fire or ambulance call.
Kidd projected the cut will be in effect five of every six days at Station 22.
The delay could add up to two minutes, depending on the location of the emergency and the distance from the other stations, Kidd said.
No firefighters will be laid off or see hours cut. Kidd said the cut will help save about $150,000 this year, helping to reduce a projected $2 million deficit.
The move drew praise from opponents.
“It sounds like they know what they’re doing,” said Jack Chrisman, an opposition leader.
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