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Town staff say fire budget rose for staffing, apparatus and post‑probation raises; Idlewild support explained
Summary
Officials described FY26 fire-department budget increases tied to new hires, merit raises and equipment additions from Idlewild; commissioners probed what the department would look like without recent funding increases.
Commissioners asked how recent budget increases affected the fire department’s operations and interlocal support arrangements; Matthews’ fire leadership and staff described how hiring, raises and new apparatus contributed to the FY26 budget.
What staff said: A town representative explained the budget increase included funding for 15 newly hired firefighters who are certified and received post‑probation raises. The town also covered merit and cost-of-living adjustments for incumbent personnel and increased part‑time staffing levels to cover shifts more cost-effectively. Staff noted that expanding the number of part‑time members saved roughly $250,000 a year compared with converting those positions to full‑time equivalents.
Idlewild apparatus and interlocal funding: Staff said Idlewild donated or transferred approximately $1.5 million worth of apparatus and equipment to the town, addressing critical maintenance needs. Commissioner Garner asked how much funding was provided to Idlewild under the current budget; staff said current-year funding to Idlewild was roughly $335,000 and that a full-year estimate would be about $425,000. The board discussed prior coordination with neighboring jurisdictions on station construction and shared services.
Context and implications: Staff said the overall fire department budget increased by approximately 2.3%—a figure staff described as lower than many cost-of-living benchmarks given added personnel and apparatus. Commissioners acknowledged the public-safety rationale for the expenditures but asked for comparisons showing what services and coverage would have looked like had the board not approved prior tax increases or the current staffing plan.
Next steps: No formal budget vote occurred at the discussion; commissioners requested documentation on line-item impacts and what service levels would be under alternative funding scenarios.
