Yarmouth voters approve override to add five firefighters as chiefs warn staffing strained

Voters at the Town of Yarmouth annual town meeting approved a Proposition 2½ override to fund five additional Yarmouth Fire Department positions, the town moderator announced after the voice vote.

The override, described by town and department leaders as necessary to address long‑running staffing shortfalls, will cost an estimated $845,000 and was presented to the meeting as a two‑year initiative following a department strategic planning process. “This is a 2 year initiative to increase staffing,” said Marcus McGarren, who moved the article. The measure passed by a majority.

The override was separated from the operating budget so the staffing increase would be contingent on voter approval of the override ballot question, town officials said. Richard Simon, chair of the Finance Committee, summarized the tax impact: the override would cost roughly $8 per $100,000 of assessed value. Chief Arasque, Yarmouth Fire Chief, told town meeting the increase is urgently needed: “We are probably the busiest fire department on Cape Cod … We're doing 8,200 calls a year which averages to over 25 calls per day,” he said. He also said call volume has risen 62% over the past 20 years.

Chief Arasque described problems the department faces without added staffing: higher rates of on‑the‑job injuries, lower morale, and difficulty retaining personnel who can earn more elsewhere. He said the town added four positions in fiscal 2025 and the five new positions requested for fiscal 2026 complete the two‑year plan to reach recommended staffing levels; the chief said the goal is to have 18 personnel per shift.

Supporters said incremental steps last year allowed the town to stretch Proposition 2½ capacity but added that revenue limits prevent funding the full two‑year plan without the override. Some residents asked whether recurring revenue could instead come from free cash or higher projected investment income; Jennifer Mullen, finance director, and Richard Simon urged fiscal prudence, saying free cash and investment income are volatile and should not fund ongoing operating costs.

The chief gave an estimate of the average homeowner impact: about $54 per year based on a $680,000 assessed home, while noting higher–valued homes would pay more. The article carries implementation steps for hiring and wage adjustments through the town budget and human resources processes.

The motion passed; the override will appear as a ballot question for voters (article language made the funding contingent on voter approval), and town officials will implement hires and classification updates if the ballot measure is approved by voters.