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Council adds CPR and AED replacements to chief’s supplemental requests; paramedic training ask remains for later budget decision
Summary
Fire Chief sought appropriations for paramedic training, turnout replacement and emergency equipment. Council approved adding replacement AEDs and automated CPR devices to the supplemental appropriation package and directed staff to include the training funding in the upcoming budget deliberations.
Lede: Provo’s fire chief requested March 25 that the council consider appropriations to cover paramedic training, replacement personal protective equipment and emergency devices; the council voted to add automated CPR devices and AED replacement to the supplemental appropriation under consideration and deferred the larger paramedic‑training appropriation for the upcoming budget process.
Nut graf: Chief described operational needs stemming from recent hiring and promotions — including higher training costs as new EMTs move toward paramedic certification — and said several onetime equipment requests could be funded from current fund balance. Councilors approved two onetime purchases (automated CPR devices and AED replacements) at the meeting and instructed staff to return with formal appropriation language in the consent calendar.
Body: The chief explained that Provo has hired 16 firefighters in the past year and promoted several paramedics, which left gaps in ambulance staffing; he asked the council for $110,000 to send up to 10 EMTs to paramedic school this fiscal year and said the department is instituting a three‑year repayment agreement if a newly trained paramedic leaves Provo within the period. The chief also asked for $65,000 to purchase second sets of turnouts so recent hires can rotate clean gear while laundering occurs; and he asked for replacement AEDs (about $49,000) and automated CPR devices (about $178,000).
Council action: At the meeting councilors accepted staff advice to include AED and CPR-device replacements in the supplemental appropriation round. On a motion to add items numbered 2 and 4 from the chief’s request (AED replacement and automated CPR devices) the council voted 6–0 (one councilor excused). The larger training request remained a mayoral/CAO budget priority item for the upcoming budget cycle; councilors asked staff to report back on which supplemental items were funded when the mayor’s tentative budget is released.
Ending: The chief said staff will proceed with procurement steps for the equipment once the appropriation is added to the council’s consent calendar; the department will continue working with the mayor and finance office to find funding for paramedic training in the FY26 budget.
