SHAES projections: a healthy budget at first blush
- Julie Cowie
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) Chief Brandon Hinz gave an impressive, statistic-filled report about SHAES operations to a large crowd at the Casco Township Board meeting on Monday June 16. He provided a brief history starting in 1957 when a paid on call Fire Department was first established. In 1996, Casco joined with South Haven Township, Geneva Township, and the City of South Haven to pool resources and establish SHAES.
SHAES is funded primarily through millage revenue; proportions paid by the various entities are divided according to property values. Casco contributes the second highest amount after the City of South Haven.
Currently SHAES offers Fire, EMS and Advanced Life Support services. The Advanced Life Support is the hardest to provide but SHAES has achieved an excellent track record. The average response time is 5 minutes and 49 seconds, compared to nationwide averages of 7 minutes, and up to 18 and a half minutes in rural areas.
In addition to millage funding, SHAES collects EMS billings. Of total EMS incidents, 53% are billable, but only half of the 53% are actually paid by insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid). If EMS arrives on scene but no one is transported, no bill is issued.
About 70% of all calls are EMS. SHAES bills about $1.3M in EMS calls and receives about $800,000 in reimbursement, annually.
Chief Hinz said the most pressing problem facing SHAES is staffing. He cited retention, burnout and a lack of interest in the fire department as barriers to full employment. Currently 14 career members work an average of 3,000 hours per year compared to the typical 2,080 hours of a 40 hour work week.
About 60% of a SHAES employee's job is EMS response. Twenty six percent of incidents occur between 10 pm and 7 am resulting in interrupted sleep for SHAES staff, who work 24 hour shifts.
Despite the Chief's best and repeated grant submission efforts, SHAES has not received federal funding to support his Advanced Life Support-trained staff. Most federal grant funding awards go to major cities.
Linda Teeter, Casco resident and Chair of the Casco Township Senior Advisory Committee, thanked Chief Hinz for his service, and that of his staff. The room applauded.
Another resident asked, "what can we do to help you?" Clearly the gathered public was impressed by the tremendous output, service level, and statistical excellence achieved by SHAES.
To this, Chief Hinz confessed that he was "blushing right now." Thanking the public for their support, Chief Hinz said SHAES holds two pancake breakfast fundraisers per year (the Sundays of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends). Staff also sell green address signs. SHAES hopes to purchase a battery-powered Jaws of Life with fundraising proceeds to upgrade their aging Jaws of Life equipment.
It was during the second meeting of the night that the funding needed by SHAES crystallized. During the Budget meeting the Township Trustees held following the conclusion of the regular monthly board meeting, Supervisor Allan Overhiser outlined the proposed millage rates for the upcoming 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Source | Purpose of Millage | Date of Election | Maximum allowable millage rate | Millage requested to be levied on Dec 1 | Expiration Date of Millage Authorized |
Allocated | Operating | 11/3/2020 | 1.0435 | 1.0435 | unlimited |
Extra voted | Roads | 8/4/2020 | 1.4277 | 1.4277 | 12/31/2025 |
Extra voted | Fire | 1/1/1966 | 4.0563 | 2.2000 | unlimited |
Extra voted | Parks & Rec | 8/4/2020 | 0.2437 | 0.2437 | 12/31/2025 |
Extra voted | Ambulance | 5/7/2024 | 0.9966 | 0.6500 | 12/31/2028 |
Extra voted | Senior (22) | 5/3/2022 | 0.2491 | 0.2491 | 12/31/2025 |
Extra voted | Senior (24) | 5/7/2024 | 0.2491 | 0.2491 | 12/31/2025 |
Extra voted | Police | 5/7/2024 | 0.6477 | 0.3340 | 12/31/2028 |
Extra voted | Roads | 5/3/2022 | 0.9966 | 0.9966 | 12/31/2026 |
Casco Township has not historically collected the maximum allowable millage rate for either Fire (orange row, above) or Ambulance (pink row, above) due to the operating efficiencies achieved by SHAES and the proportioned manner of funding the budget among participating municipalities.
For the 2025-2026 year, while the Township will still collect significantly below the maximum allowable rate, Casco Township is proposing to levy a higher millage rate than past years to increase the funding available to SHAES for the purpose of adding staff.
For Fire, Casco will collect $790,000. For Ambulance, Casco will collect $225,000.
The amount collected fits the SHAES proposed budget. In the new budget, SHAES hopes to hire 3 additional staff members and initiate twelve hour shifts.
The SHAES annual budget is approximately $5.278M. The contribution Casco Township makes for Fire is based on property values; the contribution for Ambulance is based on population.
In addition to millage revenue, fundraisers, grants and donations, SHAES also receives revenue for fire hydrant rental from SHAWSA (the South Haven Area Water and Sewer Authority); this adds about $65,000 per year from Casco Township to the SHAES budget.
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