ASHLAND — The Firelands Ambulance Service District is asking voters for a third time to consider renewing a five-year, 1-mill levy.
The measure failed during the November 2025 general election, according to Cindi Amburgy, district financial and administrative clerk. However, the ballot measure was both a renewal and an increase on the November 2025 ballot (five-year, 3-mill).
It also was not renewed by voters in Ashland and Huron counties during the May primary, despite reverting back to a straight renewal of the five-year, 1-mill rate.
In Ashland County, 51.67 percent of voters approved of the renewal in May. But in Huron County, 58.18 percent of voters disapproved. The levy renewal ultimately failed by a vote count of 479 to 400.
According to county auditor estimates, if approved, the levy will collect $134,120 annually at a cost to homeowners of $24 per each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value per year (or $2 per month) — commencing in 2026 and first due in calendar year 2027.
As a renewal, this is money that’s already being paid by such a property owner and is not a new tax.
Firelands EMS Chief Jeffrey Scott, who joined the group in late 2024 as a volunteer paramedic and was selected chief in early 2025, said should the levy fail again Nov. 3, the impact on timely EMS resources will be significant.
“It’s going to be a huge, heavy reliance on mutual aid to areas that are already burdened just like we are,” Scott said Friday. “That will directly impact getting EMS to a true medical emergency (in a timely fashion).”
Funds generated by the levy help the district provide ambulance and emergency medical services to its coverage area.
“We’re just doing the best we can with what we got,” the chief said, adding that Firelands does still have a tremendous support base.
The ongoing movement calling for the elimination of property taxes in Ohio is something Scott said he feels has played a role in the levy renewal failing back in May and November 2025.
The chief said it’s crippled a lot of people needing levies renewed.
“When it comes to EMS, fire, police and schools, to me those are non-negotiables. We have to have those to have a functional society,” Scott said.
“We’re victims of a movement that I’m empathetic to, but at the same time, I don’t think people realize the impact that that’s going to have for fire and EMS.”
If the levy on the ballot Nov. 3 fails a third straight time, the chief said Firelands will come back to the primary ballot in 2027 with a brand new levy — which would be based on the newest property valuations, meaning a higher cost for taxpayers.
Rising costs raise need for renewal
Firelands EMS, founded in 1978, serves more than 5,500 residents within an 127-square mile primary response district, including New London (village and township) and Fitchville Township in Huron County and Ruggles and Troy townships in Ashland County. The community-based ambulance service is composed of part-time and volunteer staff.
Firelands EMS, based at 25 James St. in New London, is also a mutual partner with other fire and EMS service agencies in its surrounding area, providing EMS to those area partners when called upon.
Since 2018, Firelands EMS has responded to more than 6,000 calls for service — peaking in 2021 with 862 calls — averaging 755 calls per year, according to Firelands EMS. From 2018 to 2025, call volume has increased by 31.5 percent.
Its current annual operating budget is approximately $516,000, of which about 50 percent is accounted for in estimated staffing and wage costs. Vehicle maintenance, medical supplies and general contracts also account for a large portion of the budget.
Firelands EMS’ current total revenue is $508,192, generated through insurance billing (56 percent, $286,197) and property tax levies (44 percent, $241,995). This leaves a gap between annual operating costs and current revenue of $7,808.
Along with the levy up for renewal in November, Firelands also has a 1-mill permanent levy in place. According to Firelands, its operational and equipment costs have risen by 42 percent from 2018 to 2025.
Scott said Firelands has enhanced several pieces of its equipment through grant funding.
“There are people that have seen that and believe (the ability to purchase new equipment reduces the need of the levy),” he said. “The taxpayer dollars through these levies actually help us staff and particularly during the day.”
Staffing itself has been difficult for Firelands, the chief said, particularly a decreasing pool of volunteers. Only five of Firelands’ volunteers within five minutes of the station, he said, with others driving anywhere from 30 to 90-plus minutes to serve.
“The nationwide decrease in EMTs and paramedics has gravely impacted Firelands EMS, as it has other agencies even surrounding us,” Scott said. “This doesn’t get us out of the woods. But if we don’t pass it, we’re going to be in dire straits and it’s going to directly impact people, period.”
When he took over as chief in 2025, Firelands EMS was strictly volunteer. Scott said through work with the board, finances were straightened out and an opportunity was born to hire part-time staffers to cover shifts. This allowed Firelands to handle more calls and operate quicker.
“To go backwards is just mind boggling,” he said.
