Committee of the Whole Council Early October Meeting

The Committee of the Whole Council met Monday night to review the Village contract with Chagrin Valley Fire Department covering fire and emergency medical services from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.

Suburban Contract Renewal Projections

  • Contract costs will increase by a compounded 12% over the next three years, for a total increase of 45% from this year’s cost.
  • In lieu of additional contract increases, annual ambulance billing revenue that was distributed to the communities will be rolled back in increments of one-third over the next three years.
  Monthly Contract Rate Monthly Contract Amount Increase Annual Increase Estimated Ambulance Reduction* Total Increase & Reduction Cumulative Increase & Receipts Reduction
Current $41,372.62     $226,000.00    
2026 $47,853.69 $6,481.07 $77,772.84 $75,333.33 $153,106.17 $153,106.17
2027 $53,596.14 $5,742.45 $68,909.40 $75,333.33 $144,242.73 $297,348.91
2028 $60,027.67 $6,431.53 $77,178.36 $75,333.33 $152,511.69 $449,860.60
3 Year Totals     $223,860.60 $226,000.00 $449,860.60  

* Actual costs vary – this estimate is based on current call volume & rate of collection on ambulance billing.

Why Are Costs Increasing?

Call Volume

  • 911 calls are up 35%, primarily due to an increase of calls from Hamlet
  • ER wait times are up (used to be 30 minutes, now more like 90)

Retention & Retention

  • Despite having highly-trained staff, among twelve local municipalities surveyed the pay in Chagrin for a Class 1 firefighter was the lowest by a large margin ($3/hour).
  • The new contract will allow the department to raise pay to the 50th percentile, or $29/hour.

Apparatus