BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—During a recent City Council Finance Committee meeting, Bucyrus Police Chief Neil Assenheimer addressed the department’s request for a new cruiser. However, this discussion led to questions about the Fire Department’s cost-cutting measures.

Chief Assenheimer informed the council that his department has been diligently working to reduce operating expenses and stay within the budget. Currently, they have two officers on the road and one desk unit, and they handle an average of 20 calls per shift with this staffing. To manage staffing shortages, officers have adjusted their comp time and willingly given up days off when someone calls in sick. Additionally, the Chief, Captains, and Lieutenants have all responded to calls themselves to help control expenses.

Law Director Brian Gernert commended Chief Assenheimer and his department for their efforts to cut costs. However, Gernert expressed dissatisfaction with the fire department’s attempts to do the same. He mentioned that mediation efforts to reduce the estimated costs of fire department salaries have been unsuccessful.

Councilman Kevin Myers came to the defense of the fire department, stating that Gernert should refrain from comparing the two departments. Myers believes that each department has its own unique challenges and circumstances.

In a recently received letter from Mayor Jeff Reser to the city auditor and safety service director, the mayor outlined his concerns:
2023 FF Spending.

 

 

Kali and Jeff,

I am looking at the amount of shortfall that we anticipate having in the Personal Services lines of #101 and #202 to try to determine the amount of funds that will be needed to add to those lines before the end of the year. Hopefully, we will be able to convince CC to reduce some of the full staff coverage hours in order to conserve much needed cash.

We knew that we would have to find the amount of the retro pay for the FD in the approximate of amount of $300,000 sometime in 2023 since this was not in the budget.

FD Spending Issues

The FD personal services lines increase by 33.5% in July as compared to 2023. The increase for August was 14.6%. The average increase for the two months combined was 23.6%.

The average amount spent in those two departments for personal services is $192,000 per month.

There is $465,000 left in those two departments for personal services.

The mathematics shows that $768,000 will be needed to finish the year so the difference needed will be $303,000.

The increase in the salary lines will result in additional pensions needed of approximately $150,000.

Total estimated shortfall is $453,000.

Conclusion

We don’t have the funds to cover the anticipated costs of the FD for the remainder of 2023.

Crawford County Now reached out to Bucyrus Fire Chief Chad Schwemley who said he had not seen the Mayor’s letter. He provided the following response:

I have talked with the Auditor (Kali)

The Fire Department budget was the only budget in the city that was known to shorted, before it was even passed by city council back in December. EMS billing revenue is currently on trend to bring in an additional $65,000 and we just signed a contract adding Tod township to the Crawford County West Joint Ambulance District that will bring in an additional $36,000 next year.

The voters passed an additional Safety Forces Levy and there are no plans of cutting staffing.

Chief Chad Schwemley

Bucyrus Fire Department
223 E Mansfield St
Bucyrus, Oh 44820

Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing story.