Council tentatively backs six additional fire positions tied to approved fire assessment rate

The Lake City Council discussed adding six firefighter positions in the proposed fiscal 2026 budget during its Aug. 11 workshop, with the mayor and multiple council members supporting the increase and staff saying the hires would be funded by the recently agreed fire assessment rate.

Fire Chief Butler described operational needs: minimum staffing had fallen to critical levels and overtime had spiked because the department was operating with fewer personnel per shift. The chief said increasing per‑shift staffing toward 10 personnel would reduce overtime and improve response capability; national guidelines were cited in the discussion noting higher staffing is needed for safe operation on structure fires.

City Manager Don Rosenthal noted the six positions were included in the budget only because the fire assessment rate was part of the revenue assumptions. “Those six positions that he’s talking about is supported by the fire assessment fee. So if there’s no fire assessment fee, there is no six positions,” Rosenthal said.

Council members asked whether overtime would fall once new hires are on board; Chief Butler said overtime should decline as staffing stabilizes but noted some recurring training and lab burn costs would remain. Council members expressed support for moving forward; staff recorded direction that the positions were to remain in the draft budget under the revenue assumptions tied to the assessment.

No formal final adoption of positions occurred at the workshop. Staff will include the positions and the revenue assumptions for council consideration in the formal budget hearing.