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Fire department budget: recruit class, pharmacy compliance and new EMS software
Summary
Fire leadership described a FY26 operating budget that preserves staffing while adding a recruit class and funding an on‑site pharmacy to meet state Board of Pharmacy requirements; the department also expects to absorb a previously grant‑funded patient‑care reporting license.
Fire Chief Hernandez presented the Alexandria Fire Department’s FY26 operating budget and outlined key initiatives and regulatory requirements that shaped requests.
The department’s FY26 operating request was presented at about $75,160,000 with a total FTE count of roughly 348.5. Chief Hernandez said the budget funds a second recruit class in FY26 to support staffing goals tied to the collective bargaining agreement; the additional class is meant to restore capacity after attrition and should allow the department to return to one class per year once targets are met. The requested recruit class funding (about $495,000) covers protective equipment, CPAT and other costs to outfit roughly 25 recruits.
Chief Hernandez reported the department completed a required pharmacy onboarding this week after a change in Virginia Board of Pharmacy requirements for agencies providing ALS services: the city now operates an in‑house pharmacy to maintain its Advanced Life Support (ALS) capability. The chief said Virginia Department of Health had previously funded patient‑care reporting software but that funding ceased and the city will now cover licensing costs; the department is preparing an EMS software update and expects ongoing licensing costs going forward.
Other budget items included professional standards support for investigations and policy work, and a reduction by deleting a long‑vacant assistant fire marshal position and reallocating funding toward a medical director needed for the pharmacy. The chief said capital costs for vehicle and apparatus replacement are a mix of operating and CIP funding; he told council fire engines cost about $1.2 million, ladder trucks about $2.1 million, medic units about $700,000, and SUVs/sedans about $50,000 plus upfitting.
Council members asked about vacancies, response times and training. The chief said the department had about 11 vacancies (5 operations and 6 admin) and a current recruit class of 24 recruits; attrition runs roughly 2.2 positions per year and the added class supports both attrition and planned growth (20 positions were added in FY23‑FY25 to meet contractual requirements). Current shift hours are 56 hours; Chief Hernandez said response times have plateaued as call volume rises and noted a new Landmark station should help spread coverage when it opens. The department also described outreach to ACPS career programs and indicated a willingness to explore incentives and homeownership program outreach to help recruitment.
Why it matters: EMS regulatory compliance and recruiting strategy directly affect the city’s ability to deliver ALS care and maintain response levels. Funding decisions for recurring licensing, recruit classes and apparatus purchases will influence both near‑term operating budgets and longer‑term capital plans.
Directions and follow‑ups: Staff will provide additional detail about recruit class timelines and retention projections; the department expects to present technology impacts from the public safety plan later in the summer or early fall.
