Ohio city rejects budget that would cut 5 firefighter positions

Trotwood officials voted down a proposal that excluded funding for grant-funded firefighters, reopening talks on long-term staffing solutions

TROTWOOD, Ohio — The Trotwood City Council has rejected its proposed 2026 budget, which would have cut five full-time firefighter positions.

Previously, the Trotwood Fire Department used a 2021 FEMA SAFER grant to fund nine temporary firefighters for three years. When the grant expired earlier in 2025, the city was able to find funding to keep five of those positions through the end of the year, WHIO reported.

| DOWNLOAD: Get grants-ready: A practical guide to winning public safety funding

The city said FEMA’s nationwide changes to the grant program’s retention rules made Trotwood ineligible to renew its SAFER funding.

The city’s proposed 2026 budget excluded funding for the five remaining SAFER-funded positions, which would have eliminated those jobs.

On Dec. 1, the city council voted to reject the plan.

The Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters praised council members for blocking the layoffs and urged city leaders to work toward a long-term solution to retain fire personnel. The Trotwood Fire Department said it values the union’s advocacy for its crews.

The city has not detailed a long-term plan for the five positions, and no next steps have been announced.

Looking to navigate the complexities of grants funding? Lexipol is your go-to resource for state-specific, fully developed grants services that can help fund your needs. Find out more about our grants services here.