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Fire budget spotlights Central Station window replacement, PFAS‑free turnout gear funding and ambulance revenue transfer
Summary
Fire staff projected a 2026 increase in health insurance and pension contributions, proposed a roughly $400,000 window replacement at Central Station, and requested an additional $50,000 contingency for PFAS‑free turnout gear when available; ambulance revenues will transfer 54% to the general fund per ordinance.
Fire department leadership and city staff presented the 2026 fire budgets and capital requests to the Finance Committee of the Whole. The presentation called attention to building repairs at Central Station and to a planned contingency for future PFAS‑free turnout gear.
On personnel costs, staff reported cost‑of‑living increases to nonbargaining and bargaining fire wages and a projected $150,000 increase in health insurance for 2026. "Both line items increased by cost of living," the presentation said; overtime for fire was projected to decrease.
Under capital and improvement items, the chief described Central Station's aging windows and provided an estimated replacement cost of about $400,000 based on vendor review; the building was described as roughly 84 years old with windows dating to the 1970s. The chief told the committee the 400,000 estimate reflects escalation since similar work 8 years earlier cost about $141,000. The chief said some windows leak and one window incident injured a firefighter, requiring a short workers'‑comp leave.
On turnout gear, the department said it has carried $100,000 in a line item for two years while waiting for PFAS‑free turnout gear to become available; staff said that gear is not yet commercially available. The department proposed increasing that line by $50,000 to prepare for purchase when vendors can supply PFAS‑free options. "Right now, it does not exist, so we're not going to expend those monies until the industry comes up with a safe turnout gear," the chief said. By National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards turnout gear is replaced every 10 years; staff said current gear is about six to seven years into service.
The fire improvement fund, which accounts for ambulance revenues and capital purchases, was explained as subject to an ordinance that calls for a yearly transfer of 54% of revenues (excluding collection/administrative fees) to the general fund. Revenue sources cited included ambulance service fees, ALS upgrades, GEMT revenue, collections and use of prior fund balance. The city presented projected expenditures tied to those revenues and said projections are in line with 2025.
No formal budget vote on the fire elements occurred at the meeting. Staff said these items will be carried forward in the committee's ongoing 2026 budget review.
