08/25/2026
Keeping seasoned personnel on our rigs means having first responders who know our layout, know our community members, and have spent years training alongside their crewmates. When experienced people leave, our community doesn't just lose an employee—we lose institutional knowledge and daily stability.
Retaining experienced personnel ensures that when you call 911, the person arriving at your door is seasoned, prepared, and ready for whatever scenario unfolds
Our goal is simply open communication with the residents we serve every day. When Springfield Township voters pass tax levies, the shared vision is to invest in public safety, maintain strong response times, and retain the dedicated firefighters and paramedics who serve our community. When looking at local benchmarks for over a decade, our members have been hopeful and have been promised that contract updates would gradually bring frontline compensation closer to surrounding communities.
However, a broad look at regional data shows a growing gap:
• Our Paramedic/Firefighters earn 80% of the regional average of $82,000. Neighboring departments**—including ALL but 1 with lower call volumes —range between 102% to 118% of the area average per
year.
When wages lag significantly behind neighboring areas, it becomes difficult to attract new recruits and retain our trained personnel. Bringing frontline compensation in line with regional benchmarks isn't just about pay—it’s about fulfilling the intent of the community's tax dollars to maintain a competitive competent department.
**Neighboring departments: Oregon, Perrysburg City,
Maumee, Bowling Green and Sylvania**
