Fire officials told the City Board their 2026 budget tries to reduce nonessential spending while preserving response capacity, and they requested discrete funding changes: updated residential burn‑permit fees, replacement of aging self‑contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) and consideration of an additional battalion chief to improve supervision.
Why it matters: SCBA replacement and battalion staffing affect firefighter safety and operational command; permit fees and other revenue measures are proposed to help offset costs.
Fire Chief Doan (presentation lead) and Deputy chiefs reviewed three cost‑management themes: line‑item reductions (office supplies, food, part‑time salaries), overtime‑reduction strategies (use of part‑time EMTs for alternate response vehicles) and revenue enhancements.
The department proposed raising residential burn permits from a historical $5 level to $25 for a six‑month permit and $40 for a year permit, aligning with fees reported in neighboring jurisdictions. Officials projected the change could generate roughly $18,000 to $26,000 annually for fire services, depending on the fee set and permit volume.
On equipment, Chief Durham explained the department operates roughly 255 SCBAs purchased in 2016 that are approaching end‑of‑life and that new NFPA standards expected this autumn will require updated equipment. Durham said replacement cost estimates approach several million dollars but that vendor negotiations can lower price when purchases are aggregated.
The department proposed creating a fifth battalion (two additional full‑time battalion chief FTEs) to reduce span‑of‑control strains across four existing battalions and to provide closer supervisory coverage; estimated recurring cost for the two FTEs was presented at approximately $305,000.
Fire officials said they had already taken some cost reductions and operational changes, such as discontinuing overtime staffing for some alternate response vehicles and increasing part‑time staffing where practical. No board votes were recorded; officials asked the board to consider the fee proposal and staffing/equipment requests as part of the forthcoming budget cycle.