Goodyear budget backs largest public‑safety hiring push in years; adds fire, ambulance and police positions
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Summary
The FY26 recommended budget funds roughly 69.52 new full‑time equivalents citywide with a heavy emphasis on public safety: 26 police FTEs phased for half‑year hiring, eight ambulance/fire FTEs to finish ambulance build‑out, and funding for new stations and remodels including Fire Station 189 and station remodels.
City officials told the council April 14 the recommended FY26 budget includes a major increase in public‑safety staffing and facility improvements intended to match the city's rapid growth.
Finance Manager Ryan Biddle said the city proposes about 69.52 new full‑time equivalencies (FTEs) for FY26, a staffing level in line with several recent years of hiring. Fire and police together make up the largest share: police account for a 26‑FTE package that staff said will be phased in so positions are budgeted for roughly half the year in FY26 and carry full‑year costs into the FY27 forecast; fire shows an 8‑FTE request connected to ambulance staffing and service build‑out.
Fire and stations Fire Chief Paul Luizi described additions and facility work in the plan, including a remodel of Fire Station 184 (Yuma and Saravel) and a new Fire Station 189 at the northwest corner of Citrus and Indian School; staff plan to use the recently completed Fire Station 188 as a prototype for 189. The FY26 budget includes funds for land acquisition for a mobile or modular station (referred to as Station 187) and design work for new stations. Chief Luizi said typical apparatus lead times remain long (three to four years for engines and specialty units), and the department has engines and ambulances in the procurement pipeline.
Ambulances and emergency equipment The budget funds the final additions needed to reach the city's planned ambulance staffing level and expands some life‑saving equipment purchases and training, including additional Zoll autopulse units and hazmat training and kits.
Police support and substation Police staffing additions include funding for the GRIT (real‑time intelligence and tactical) center positions; staff said the budget covers half‑year salaries for many hires because officers must complete academy training and field onboarding. The CIP also includes a planned police substation attached to Fire Station 188 to give officers supervisory and report‑writing space closer to the western service area.
Why it matters The hires are intended to reduce response times, staff new stations and support new city growth corridors. Biddle cautioned council the FY27 budget will need to carry full‑year costs for phased hires and that callable debt payoffs planned in the forecast will create future operating capacity.
Quotes "There is definitely a very heavy emphasis of public safety in this budget," Biddle said. Fire Chief Paul Luizi said the department is working to provide decontamination and equipment spaces as stations are remodeled and that new stations will follow the same standards adopted in recent remodels.
Ending Council members signaled support but asked questions about construction sequencing, vehicle procurement timelines and whether neighboring jurisdictions will provide complementary coverage; staff said new stations and deployments are being coordinated with adjacent agencies as projects move into design.