Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Arizona committee advances bill to bar cities from reducing fire department operating budgets
Loading...
Summary
The Arizona House Science and Technology Committee voted to recommend House Bill 2943, a measure that would bar cities and towns from cutting a municipal fire department's operating budget below the prior year and permit the state treasurer to withhold matching state-shared revenues until funds are restored.
The Arizona House Science and Technology Committee voted to give House Bill 2943 a due-pass recommendation after a hearing in which firefighters urged protections for municipal fire department funding and city officials warned the bill would remove local budget flexibility.
House Bill 2943, introduced to the committee by Representative Hernandez, would prohibit cities and towns from lowering municipal fire department operating budgets below the previous year. Under the bill, if a municipality reduced a fire department's budget, the state treasurer would withhold a matching amount of state-shared revenue until the city restored the fire department budget, except when shared revenues are necessary for the city to meet long-term obligations. Cities could also be exempted if they lack funds required to maintain the prior-year budget level.
The bill sponsor framed the measure as a public-safety protection. "We want to ensure that they just have the resources that they need to be able to do their job," Representative Hernandez said, adding that Arizona's wildfire risk and rising demand for 911 responses make stable funding important. Firefighter Jesse Hollerich of the City of Mesa, representing Professional Firefighters of Arizona, testified in strong support. He told the committee that departments statewide face staffing shortages, rising call volumes and difficulties retaining personnel: "We are behind in hiring and retaining an adequate amount of personnel that are available to promptly respond to these emergencies," Hollerich said.
Marshall Pimentel of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns testified in respectful opposition, saying the bill would remove local governments' flexibility to adjust budgets in response to changing local conditions. "Local governments must have the ability to allocate resources responsibly and adapt to changing circumstances, and this bill removes that flexibility," Pimentel said, adding that one-time grants or equipment purchases can change year-to-year budgets without reducing service.
Committee members asked about recruitment and retention; Hollerich said personnel shortages were the most pressing concern and estimated hiring and training a firefighter costs more than $100,000, creating a financial burden when recruits leave within a few years. Sponsor Hernandez said the bill does not set pay rates for firefighters but is aimed at preventing reductions that could endanger public safety.
After discussion the committee voted. During roll call, several members explained their votes on the record. Representative Aguilar said recent local incidents informed his aye vote; Representative Caballero and Representative Connolly said concerns from small towns and constituents led to no votes; Representative Fink announced a nay vote over questions about local flexibility. The chair announced the committee vote as 5 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present, 0 absent, giving HB 2943 a due-pass recommendation.
The bill now moves forward with the committee recommendation and will be available for additional consideration in the House. The committee record includes testimony from municipal firefighters and from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns; the bill text includes exemptions for municipalities lacking funds and for long-term financial obligations.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 2943 — committee action: returned with due-pass recommendation; committee vote: 5 ayes, 4 nays.
