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Atlanta Fire Rescue outlines FY26 budget priorities: staffing, new apparatus and stations
Summary
Atlanta Fire Rescue told City Council members it is prioritizing filling sworn vacancies, expanding its fleet and opening stations as part of its FY26 budget presentation, while flagging a 12.13% sworn vacancy rate and plans for quarterly recruit graduations.
Atlanta Fire Rescue presented its proposed fiscal 2026 operating priorities to the Atlanta City Council, emphasizing efforts to reduce sworn vacancies, expand apparatus and complete new stations while managing overtime and contractor costs.
The department said the proposed FY26 staffing and capital requests are intended to sustain a department the presentation described as maintaining an ISO Class 1 rating and completing a fifth reaccreditation cycle. Those credentials, the presenter said, “translate into the lowest insurance costs that we can provide to the citizens of Atlanta.”
Atlanta Fire Rescue’s presenter, identified in the hearing as the representative of Atlanta Fire Rescue, told council members that the combined general fund and aviation fund headcount for the department is 1,322 budgeted full‑time equivalents and that the sworn vacancy rate is 12.13 percent. “We currently have 118 recruits,” the presenter said, adding the department will hold recruit graduations quarterly through the next year and that “the next graduation is scheduled for May 19” at the new Public Safety Training Center.
Councilmembers and the department focused questions and discussion on overtime, the impact of the compensation and classification study, and near‑term fleet and station projects. Councilmember Helles asked whether a union request to add a monthly Kelly day for firefighters had been considered; the presenter said labor talks on that and other stress‑reduction measures are ongoing and that the department is pursuing technology and response‑model changes to reduce call volume.
Chief O’Hare, who answered council questions about vehicles and maintenance, said “currently, we have 2 engines and 4 trucks that are under repair, of which 3 of those vehicles are due to accidents.” He described recent deliveries and donations, citing replacement of battalion vehicles, three EMS supervisor cars, and two Rivian EMS support vehicles donated by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation. The department said orders already placed include five engines and two tower ladder apparatus (TDAs) expected to arrive in the next fiscal year; the presenter added the formal FY26 request is for six engines and three ladders.
On facilities, the presenter listed recent and active station projects: Fire Station 22 is open; ground has been broken on Stations 26 and 30; and Stations 25 and 31 are “soon to come.” The presentation noted a multistation replacement list is being developed and that the department has been coordinating funding and construction planning with other city offices. The presenter said the department is working with the Department of Finance to reconcile a roughly 16 percent variance in the general fund breakout and is focusing on overtime spending, reducing contractor services and consolidating purchases such as turnout gear.
Councilmember Wan and others asked finance staff to disaggregate the FY26 personnel increases to show what portion of the department’s roughly $19 million budget increase is base salary and benefits tied to a full year of the compensation study versus new FTEs. Yolanda Carr, deputy chief financial officer, agreed to take that request back to finance and provide the analysis to council.
Council questions also touched on specialized response needs for the BeltLine and wildfire/vegetation fires, where the department said it is considering mini‑pumpers, bike teams and foot patrol units to increase presence and improve response in nontraditional, lightly vegetated corridors.
The department described recent internal work prompted by a city fleet maintenance audit: it said all 10 audit recommendations have been implemented in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and that a fleet replacement plan is in place. The presenter acknowledged some unclear timing in the presentation materials about the fleet plan horizon and said finance and the department would provide clarifying documentation to council staff.
The presentation closed with department leaders inviting follow‑up questions and offering to return with requested breakdowns and additional detail on vacancies, overtime and delivery schedules for apparatus.
