Potter County Fire Chief Richard asked the commissioners to fund a multi-year plan that would add six full-time firefighting positions (three firefighters and three lieutenants) to transition two stations to continuous 24‑hour staffing and free command vehicles now used for daily response.

The chief said pay compression has left captains and assistant chiefs at nearly the same pay level and urged the court to create separation between ranks. He asked the court to prioritize staffing first — funded from County Assistance District (CAD) revenue the department generates — and to address broader pay-scale adjustments in future budgets.

Chief Richard said CAD receipts have been larger than early projections and suggested the department could sustain the six positions from CAD without increasing property taxes. He recommended purchasing life-safety equipment (breathing apparatus) and noted that some equipment purchases could be funded as one-time capital from CAD rather than as recurring payroll.

Commissioners expressed concern about removing recurring payroll items from CAD, noting that CAD revenue has different risk and forecast characteristics than the general fund. Auditor Brandon asked for time to model the CAD-based hires and to present the fiscal mechanics to Judge Tanner before the budget filing deadline.

Why it matters: The fire chief argued the staffing change would improve operational readiness and reduce overtime, but commissioners emphasized the long-term implications of moving recurring payroll to a fund that is not the county’s general recurring revenue stream.