Delray Beach fire chief urges maintaining 3‑person rescue staffing while outlining costs to implement 24/72 shift

Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin told the Delray Beach City Commission on March 18 that implementing the contractually required 24/72 work schedule will require added staffing and carry a significant price tag but argued preserving the city’s current three‑person rescue staffing is essential for timely high‑acuity emergency care.

Martin said the contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters (local 1842) calls for a shift that reduces average workweek hours to about 42, which requires creating a fourth platoon. To meet the October 1, 2025 contractual implementation deadline, Martin said the department would need 15 additional emergency‑operations positions in the current fiscal year and eight more positions in FY25‑26, though the second tranche would be filled based on overtime statistics and budget availability.

Martin provided cost estimates: he described a midyear budget adjustment for FY24‑25 of approximately $619,534 (to hire 15 firefighter‑paramedics) and a potential additional FY25‑26 cost of roughly $863,409 for a multi‑year staffing plan; he presented a combined multi‑year estimate in the materials shown to the commission. The department also outlined the option of changing the EMS service delivery model (reducing minimum shift staffing from 34 to 29), which would avoid creating new positions but would likely require adding a sixth rescue in the future and reduce system efficiency.

Chief Martin and medical director Dr. Craig Coeshner emphasized clinical risks if staffing and allocation are reduced. “If you make this change, there is risk in the performance or the outcomes of these patients,” Dr. Coeshner said, pointing to pit‑crew CPR, stroke response and other time‑sensitive interventions where additional hands on scene increase survivability. Martin warned that lower staffing would increase dual‑apparatus responses to low‑acuity calls, slow hospital turnaround, and raise the risk of delays to critical interventions such as defibrillation for cardiac arrest.

Commissioners responded strongly. Several members — including Vice Mayor Cassell and Commissioner Burns — voiced support for maintaining the current three‑person rescue staffing and for funding the staffing additions rather than lowering the service model. Commissioner Markert asked whether further internal efficiencies could offset cost; Martin said department leaders are conducting zero‑based budgeting and other internal reviews to find efficiencies but that rising equipment and apparatus costs limit savings.

There was no formal vote. Martin said the city manager and finance director would work with the department on a recommended midyear budget adjustment and that the commission will see detailed funding proposals during the budget cycle. Martin also noted potential offsetting revenue — about $260,000 — could be available from development‑collected fire concurrency fees if the commission chooses to use that source for the midyear adjustment.

The commission did not change the policy in the meeting; the chief’s plan and cost estimates will be considered during the city’s budget workshops and when staff bring a formal midyear amendment for consideration.