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St. Louis Fire Department says FY26 cuts risk equipment readiness, EMS staffing
Summary
Fire Chief Jackerson told the Board of Aldermen’s Budget & Public Employees Committee that the department’s FY26 request was reduced and that cuts to protective clothing, computer services and recruit-related funding could slow hiring and impair readiness; he urged attention to a continuing paramedic shortage and reliance on GEMT reimbursements.
Mayor’s budget office proposal left the St. Louis Fire Department short of its requested FY26 funding, department leaders told the Budget & Public Employees Committee on May 8.
Chief Jackerson, presenting the Saint Louis Fire Department’s FY26 request, said the department asked for $75,154,741 but the proposed budget provided about $71,000,009. The chief told the committee most of the gap was in personnel costs and warned the department remains short on paramedics and other front-line staff.
Why it matters: the department handles roughly 59,000 fire-related incidents and about 56,000 emergency medical responses a year; those calls drive equipment, training and personnel needs. Chief Jackerson said continuing shortfalls would affect response capacity and training investments and that some line-item reductions are directly tied to ongoing recruit classes.
Chief Jackerson outlined personnel and program details. He said the department’s table of organization covers 586 firefighters, 29 medics (a mix of…
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