Forest Park fire levy fails, raising concerns over emergency response times

Forest Park fire levy fails, raising concerns over emergency response times Voters in Forest Park rejected a renewal levy for fire and EMS services, raising concerns about potential budget cuts and longer emergency response times. Advertisement Updated: 7:54 AM EST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Giacomo Luca Reporter Forest Park fire levy fails, raising concerns over emergency response times Voters in Forest Park rejected a renewal levy for fire and EMS services, raising concerns about potential budget cuts and longer emergency response times. Updated: 7:54 AM EST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Giacomo Luca Reporter FOREST PARK, Ohio — Voters in Forest Park narrowly rejected a renewal levy that would have funded fire and EMS services, prompting concerns about the impact on emergency response times and department resources. Forest Park Fire Chief Jermaine Hill said the levy failure comes as department funding has been flat while costs for fuel, vehicle repairs, training, salaries, and the need for emergency response have increased. Advertisement The Forest Park Fire Department now responds to more than 6,000 calls annually, with 85% of those being medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes, where rapid response is critical, Hill said. “When we have more trucks on the road, we have more people here that can fill those slots, we can respond faster,” Hill said. “If we have to, say, brown out one of our – either our engine or our ladder, and we have a fire, now we’re relying on our mutual aid partners and instead of us getting there in four minutes, now we’re looking at eight minutes, looking at nine, 10, 12 minutes possibly. And that time is critical in an emergency.” Without additional funding, city leaders will be looking at ways to trim the budget. Chief Hill said that could mean fewer firefighters, fewer ambulances, and longer response times. Officials are also likely to ask voters to reconsider funding these critical services at the ballot box next May. There were 12 fire, EMS and police levies on the ballot this November across Greater Cincinnati. Seven passed and five were rejected. Make WLWT a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks 19-year-old to become of Massachusetts' youngest representatives in state history Dramatic video: Mother rescues man drowning 'We brought him home': A WWII soldier killed 82 years ago has finally been laid to rest New video shows NTSB investigators recovering Learjet wreckage pieces from Florida crash crater