Opelousas chiefs describe staffing shortfalls, overtime costs and equipment needs for fire and police

Opelousas public-safety leaders told the council that staffing shortages in the fire and police departments have driven significant overtime costs and that equipment and training needs will create near-term budget pressure.

Brian James, fire chief, said the fire department has 37 firefighters on staff, down from a previous high of 45. He said minimum staffing requirements at Central Station and substations create overtime needs: when a firefighter takes leave, a supervisor or higher-ranking officer often fills the slot, adding overtime expense. Chief James said the state-sponsored firefighter academy recently resumed without a tuition fee, but recruits still require physical testing and certification before they can be placed on apparatus.

Chief James also warned of equipment renewal costs. He estimated new bunker gear (turnout coat, pants, boots, helmet) at roughly $4,000 per set and said the department needs about 40 sets as existing gear reaches the end of its service life in 2026. He said prior grant funding bought gear about a decade ago; that grant is not a recurring annual allocation.

Police and fire leaders told councilors they have applied for federal grants (AFG, SAFER) but were denied; chiefs recommended not relying solely on grant funding for recurring staffing needs. Police representatives confirmed overtime is driven by staff shortages and noted similar hiring difficulties.

No formal action was taken at the meeting on public-safety staffing; chiefs urged the council to factor departmental hiring and equipment costs into the city budget and potential rainy-day savings strategy.