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Fire department presents FY26 operating ask of $4.74 million, seeks SCBA grant and apparatus planning
Summary
The Fire Department told the Board its FY26 operating request is about $4.74 million, driven largely by overtime and staffing; chief noted a $450,000 bonded request for self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and a five‑year apparatus plan that may include refurbishment or replacement of ladder and tanker units.
The Fire Department presented its FY26 operating and capital requests to the Board, showing a proposed operating total of $4,735,578 and emphasizing overtime and full‑time salaries as the major drivers.
The department said overtime comprises roughly 91% of a major driver bucket and that full‑time staffing stands at 24 firefighters for the coming year, with about 30 volunteers. The department described recent activity levels — 1,237 calls in the reporting year, about 50% of which were alarm responses — and reported $600,000 in property and contents losses associated with incidents that had significant fire damage. The chief explained coding and national reporting conventions for incident types and how those feed the statistics.
On capital, the department requested $450,000 for SCBA replacement, which the chief described as past the typical 15‑year useful life (they estimated current packs at roughly 17 years). The department said it applied for a FEMA AFG grant that could substantially reduce the town’s cost share (the chief said a successful grant would likely reduce local share to about 25% of the ask, once additional non‑grantable equipment needs are considered).
The chief also flagged a pickup truck that is 18 years old and described apparatus planning for ladder and tanker units: consultants will evaluate whether refurbishment or replacement makes sense and the department noted market constraints (leaders said some replacement vehicles on the market would not fit the current bay). The department gave a five‑year apparatus schedule that includes refurbishment or replacement and cautioned that prices remain high for new apparatus; one estimate for a new truck was cited in the $1.8–1.9 million range.
The chief said many recurring annual capital items (hose, batteries, radio replacements and turnout gear) were included in the tax‑supported capital plan and discussed options to bond larger items and to coordinate radio purchases across departments to seek better pricing. The department also noted continuing efforts on water‑supply access and static water sources for firefighting in certain neighborhoods.
Ending: The chief asked the Board to review the tax‑supported capital list and identify which items are must‑haves versus postponable, saying staff will return with a cleaned‑up list for the capital‑budget decisions scheduled in the coming weeks.
