Westfield Joint Fire District Background

In July 2026, the Westfield Township Board of Trustees and Westfield Center Village Council voted to establish the Westfield Joint Fire District. It would provide the same fire and EMS services offered by the current Westfield Fire and Rescue District, while creating a more equitable tax and voting partnership between the village and township. The joint fire district’s four-member oversight board consists of one township trustee, one village council member, one township resident, and one village resident. The joint fire district board will have full authority over the budget and operation of the fire department.

Issue on the Nov. 3 ballot

The joint fire district has placed a five-year, 3.1-mill levy request on the Nov. 3 ballot. All registered voters in the township and village are eligible to vote on this proposed levy, which would fund the day-to-day operation of the fire department and provide for the replacement of equipment that has reached the end of its lifespan. If this 3.1-mill levy is approved by voters, Westfield Township’s current 2.5-mill continuous levy would be discontinued, as would the village’s contract with the township for fire and EMS services. Instead, all village and township property owners would pay 3.1 mills to fund fire and EMS services in the joint fire district.

If the levy request is not approved on Nov. 3, the joint fire district would dissolve, the current funding structure would remain in place, and fire and EMS services would face steep financial cuts in the face of rising operational costs.

How much would the proposed levy cost?

The proposed 3.1-mill levy would cost $109 per $100,000 of property value as appraised by the county auditor. To calculate the exact cost based on your property, go to the Medina County Auditor’s website at https://auditor.medinacounty.gov/. 

Search on your last name to find your property. Look for the most recent total appraised value.

Divide the total appraised value by 100,000. Take that number and multiply it by $109. The result is the annual cost of the proposed levy for your property.

For example: Let’s say your property’s total appraised value is $387,900. Dividing that by 100,000 equals 3.879. Multiplying 3.879 by $109 equals an annual cost of $422.81. Breaking it down even more, that’s $35.23 per month or $1.15 per day.

How Fire & EMS Services Are Funded

The Fire & Rescue District receives funding from multiple sources, including:

• Voter-approved operating levies

• Bond levies for capital facilities

• Grants (state and federal)

• Donations and fundraising

• Cost recovery billing for certain incidents

These revenue sources support daily operations, staffing, training, equipment, facilities, and long-term planning.

Operating Levies

Operating levies provide funding for the ongoing costs of Fire & EMS services, including:

• Staffing and training

• Equipment maintenance

• Utilities and insurance

• Contracted services

The District currently receives revenue from:

• • A 2.5 mill continuous operating levy approved in 2012, currently collecting at a reduced effective rate

(Millage rates and effective tax impacts are determined by the Medina County Auditor.)

Bond Levy

A 20-year bond levy approved in 2018 provides funding for the Fire & Rescue facility.

• The bond funds were used for construction of the Fire & Rescue building

• Bond levy funds are restricted to debt repayment and cannot be used for operations

What Fire & EMS Funding Supports

Funding supports both operating and capital needs, including:

Operating Expenses

• Personnel wages and benefits

• Training and certification

• Equipment maintenance and repairs

• Utilities, insurance, and contracted services

Over the past several years, operating costs have increased due to:

• Rising utility and insurance costs

• Increased costs for equipment testing and maintenance

• Contractual cost increases

Capital Expenses

Capital funding supports long-term investments, including:

• Fire apparatus and emergency vehicles

• Major equipment purchases

• Facility-related needs

Capital planning is necessary due to the high cost and long lead times required to replace emergency vehicles and equipment.

Grants, Donations & Other Revenue

In addition to levy funding, the District actively pursues alternative funding sources.

Grant and donation funding is competitive and not guaranteed year to year.