Burlington Fire Department outlines FY26 budget needs, warns ARPA loss and supply costs will raise general fund ask

The Burlington Fire Department presented its FY26 budget to the Board of Finance on May 14, saying the department’s operating needs have increased largely because one-time federal ARPA funds used in prior years will not recur.

Chief LaChance said the department responded to just under 11,000 calls last year, including 1,592 fire responses and about 7,100 emergency medical responses. “We did just shy of 11,000 calls for service last year,” he said during the presentation.

Why it matters: The department is operations- and personnel-intensive — roughly 93% of its budget is for staffing. Loss of one-time federal funds and rising medical and equipment costs will increase the city’s general fund obligation, which affects tax-supported spending citywide.

Key budget drivers and staffing LaChance told councilors that FY26 shows new money needs of $2,223,000, a shortfall driven by the end of $1.2 million in ARPA funding the department used in FY25 and inflation in medical and equipment costs. Chief LaChance said the department remains authorized for 96 positions and currently holds two vacancies while maintaining minimum staffing requirements.

On revenue, the department relies heavily on ambulance billing but said Medicare and Medicaid payment limits constrain how much the city can recover. “While we do want a community that is healthy, we do rely on ambulance revenue to make ends meet,” LaChance said. Last year the department brought in 18% more ambulance revenue than expected; as of the April reporting period this year they were at about 76% of projection with the year 75% complete.

Community health programs and cost-saving efforts LaChance described ongoing community health initiatives, including a community response team for overdose responses, partnerships with Howard Center and a limited street buprenorphine program. He said the department’s lateral hiring program and reduced overtime indicate progress toward stabilizing staffing costs.

Union negotiations, supplies and other pressures Councilors asked about cost-of-living adjustments and collective bargaining. LaChance and staff said COLA assumptions are subject to bargaining and that the city is in active negotiations; department leaders declined to announce specific assumed percentages in open session. The chief also warned of inflationary pressures: medical supplies, apparatus parts and even fire hose costs have risen, increasing operating lines.

ARPA and one-time funds When asked directly, the chief confirmed the department received $1.2 million in ARPA support in the prior year that will not recur, and that a similar amount supported police. “ARPA was 1,200,000.0 last year,” he said. The loss of that funding is the single-largest driver of the FY26 increase in requested general fund support for public safety.

Next steps Department leaders offered to provide detailed backup on specific line items — including why retirement and benefits line items rise in FY26 and what training and professional services budgets will cover — and to respond by email to councilors’ follow-up questions. LaChance also said the department will seek to align fee schedules, some of which are embedded in the city charter, and asked the council to consider moving fee authority to ordinance to allow more frequent adjustments.

Ending note Councilors thanked the chief for a concise presentation and asked for follow-up documentation on training, contractual services, retirement increases and recruitment costs. The department emphasized it will continue to evolve its community health programs and manage overtime by maintaining healthy staffing levels.