Early fire chief proposes $43,500 budget for 2026 after 61 calls in 2025

Fire Chief Keith Horan told the Early City Council on Jan. 6 that the department handled 61 calls in 2025 and is proposing a $43,500 budget for 2026, down from $48,000 in 2025. Chief Horan noted one member retired (Doug Ries) and one new member (Zach Roling) was added to the rolls; the department's officers remain the same.

"I propose that the fire budget for 2026 be $43,500," Chief Horan said, and added that department members are required to complete physicals every five years, a cost factor in the current budget year. With the department's debt paid off, Chief Horan suggested the council consider moving to a fixed contribution model for city and township funding to simplify ongoing support; staff will provide more detailed budget information for council consideration during the budgeting process.

The council also discussed maintenance issues: Mayor William Cougill (referred to as "Bill" in notes) raised algae contamination in diesel fuel for the city's fire trucks and asked whether the department could use the city diesel barrel or obtain fuel from another source. The minutes record that the fire department and city staff will proceed to address the fueling issue outside the meeting.

No formal budget adoption occurred at the Jan. 6 meeting; Chief Horan's figure was presented as the department's proposed budget for council review during the FY 2026 budget process.