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Fire chief seeks staffing and fleet support in FY26; highlights training academy and USAR role
Summary
Fire Chief Ken Pravitz told council the department's proposed budget adds 30 firefighters to reduce overtime, funds fleet and apparatus needs, and continues work on firefighter health and a regional USAR task force.
Fire Chief Ken Pravitz said the manager’s proposed budget moves to stabilize staffing and address apparatus needs, adding 30 FTEs that represent the second half of a previously approved increase. "This budget also adds some additional staffing... 30 new firefighters," Pravitz said, and he reported the recent recruit class significantly reduced overtime.
Pravitz outlined other budget priorities: investments in fire apparatus, a plan for enhanced physicals and screening for firefighter health, and capital funding to address fleet replacements. He noted the department is pursuing longer‑term fleet funding rather than relying on year‑end transfers.
The chief highlighted the department’s role on national deployments and training: Virginia Beach hosts a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue task force and recently marked the 40th anniversary of the mounted patrol. He also described efforts to accelerate return‑to‑work processes for injured members to reduce lost‑time and overtime pressures.
Council members discussed flex‑holiday pay for 24‑hour firefighters and the proposal in the manager’s budget to align holiday pay to a reduced hour formula; staff said reconciling that difference would cost an estimated $600,000–$700,000 if restored. The chief and council praised station visits and the career continuity that training and recruitment provide.
Pravitz thanked council for earlier CIP support to begin work on apparatus stabilization while calling for continued attention to long‑term fleet and training‑academy funding.
