PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BUDGET … EMS Coordinator Clayton O’Brien presented the commissioners with a budget review.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Commissioners met for their regular session on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an opening prayer and roll call with all commissioners present.
Commissioners first approved the minutes from the November 4, 2025, session and accepted the day’s agenda as presented.
Under old business, they reviewed the month-end financial report, which summarized fund balances, revenues, and expenditures through October 31.
The report reflected continued financial stability across county accounts, with strong balances maintained in both the general fund and department-specific funds.
In new business, commissioners reviewed the 2025 Delinquent Tax and Assessment Collection (DTAC) report from Prosecutor T. Luke Jones, which detailed expenditures from the DTAC fund and projected $30,000 in estimated revenues for 2026.
The board also approved a series of appropriations and fund transfers for various departments, including a major appropriation for the ongoing Love’s Travel Stop infrastructure project managed through the Maumee Valley Planning Organization.
Additionally, commissioners formally approved a recommendation from the Fulton County Board of Developmental Disabilities to suspend 1.6 mills of its 2.6-mill operating levy for tax year 2025, payable in 2026.
The one-year suspension will allow the agency to reduce its cash carryover while maintaining services and programs for residents with developmental disabilities.
Public infrastructure also remained a focus. The Board authorized payments for work completed by E.S. Wagner Company and R.G. Zachrich Construction on separate bridge projects located on County Road J and Township Road 108.5.
Both projects are part of the county’s ongoing bridge rehabilitation and replacement program managed through the Fulton County Engineer’s Office.
The commissioners then made appointments to the Job and Family Services Advisory Board and signed purchase orders and travel requests.
The board then held a budget hearing with the county’s Emergency Medical Services department, reviewing projected 2026 expenses and operational plans.
EMS Coordinator Clayton O’Brien opened by providing a recap of 2025 activity, reporting 3,471 calls to date, about 57 percent of which resulted in patient transport.
That figure represents a slight decrease from the 3,667 calls logged at the same time last year but remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic years.
“Back in 2019, we only did about 2,700 runs for the whole year,” O’Brien explained, noting that countywide EMS call volume has risen roughly 27 percent since that period.
Billing collections also showed substantial improvement over the past year. Clayton attributed much of that success to the transition from AccuMed to EMSMC, a new billing management company that took over in 2024.
“The reports, submissions, and follow-up have all been better,” he said, adding that average collections per transport now total around $400 compared to $283 in 2018. Year-to-date billing revenue stands near $946,000, averaging $94,000 per month.
Expenses on disposable supplies are consistent with prior years, totaling roughly $97,000 year-to-date and projected to be near $120,000 annually. Clayton said supply control remains steady since the implementation of a medical vending system used by EMS crews.
Turning to 2026, O’Brien presented a preliminary budget that anticipates $5.39 million in revenue against about $6.4 million in projected expenses, leaving an estimated $1 million deficit.
“We always budget revenue conservatively and expenses liberally,” he noted, adding that actual figures are expected to fall below those estimates.
The proposed 2026 budget includes the possible purchase of one new ambulance, estimated at $450,000, though the decision will depend on manufacturer lead times.
“If delivery is still two to three years out, it makes sense to place an order,” he said. “If not, we can delay until 2027.” Two ambulances ordered for Archbold are already scheduled for delivery in December 2025 and June 2026.
The department also continues evaluating cardiac monitor upgrades. The EMS Committee recently reviewed new models from Stryker and Zoll and plans to conduct field testing before making recommendations.
Current monitors range in age from five to ten years. O’Brien emphasized that any replacement decision would likely come late in 2026.
Additional highlights included updates to narcotic handling policies and uniform supply procedures across all EMS stations.
The new process establishes standardized “par levels” for controlled substances and unified documentation forms for tracking use, all of which will later integrate with a new SmartSheets platform to improve digital reporting.
He also discussed future software and contract costs. The county’s new maintenance contract for cardiac monitors and related equipment increased by about $130,000, replacing several expiring warranties.
The department discontinued its annual $10,000 subscription to the former Handtevy pediatric software, replacing it with SmartSheets for roughly $7,000 annually.
Training costs remain budgeted at $15,000, consistent with prior years, though totals vary depending on new EMT certifications. The 2026 EMS budget will be finalized later this year as part of the county’s overall appropriations process.
With nothing further, the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 a.m.