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Fire chief seeks apparatus replacements, SCBA set-aside and training funds in proposed budget
Summary
The fire department presented a proposed budget that would increase overall spending about 4.89% over the revised year, asked to begin planning for an engine replacement (estimated at about $1.5 million in today's dollars) and proposed annual set‑asides for air packs (SCBAs).
The Fire Chief (name not specified) presented the department's fiscal-26 request and said the department-level total in the packet yields an overall increase of about 4.89% from the revised numbers. "Total budget request for 25-26 is $14,000,006.69..." he said during the explanation and summarized changes by division.
The chief asked the council to consider long-term planning for two major capital needs: replacement of Engine 2 and future purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs). He characterized the apparatus replacement cost as "approximately a million and a half to replace engine 2" in today's dollars and said manufacturers' backlogs mean delivery windows can extend three to four years. For SCBAs he said the collection would total about $450,000 and proposed setting aside $45,000 annually for nine to 10 years to fund that purchase.
Division-level changes included modest increases in firefighter wages to reflect a 4.5% effective raise, additional overtime and tuition/paramedic training costs for new hires, and capital requests tied to arriving new apparatus (tools and battery-powered equipment). The chief also listed station-maintenance needs (furnace replacement, exterior repairs and a central-station door widening estimate of about $80,000) and said some requested capital lines were trimmed to reach the overall budget target.
Ending
The chief asked aldermen to consider reinstating or restoring specific capital items (engine replacement and SCBA set-asides) later in the budget process; no formal action was taken at the meeting.
