Fire/EMS leaders present staffing, equipment and capital needs as 2026 budget is drafted

Jason Lincoln and Kim Lofford presented the fire and EMS 2026 budget proposal, outlining personnel negotiations, equipment replacement plans and capital needs for emergency medical services.

The presenters said salaries were budgeted to reflect potential cost‑of‑living and step increases; the department is negotiating with the city and the bargaining unit. They said three equipment‑operator positions remain frozen in the 2026 budget and described a planning goal to staff a future Fire Station 3 north of town once growth and response‑time needs justify construction.

On equipment, the presenters described plans to replace aging ambulances and to purchase additional med units and auto‑pulse devices. They discussed the tradeoffs between remounting medical boxes on new truck chassis and buying different chassis types (type 3 units versus traditional truck chassis), noting remounting/aftermarket fabrication raises costs and compatibility issues. The department reported four of five medic units were operational at the time of the presentation, with one in the shop for repairs.

The presenters also provided a capital plan that included periodic replacement of monitors and med‑unit equipment and noted the rising cost of medical supplies and vehicle maintenance. They said they had submitted a capital improvement project (CIP) request for ambulances and related equipment and would bring specific contract/CIP funding requests to the board as needed.

Commissioners asked operational questions about unit availability and remounting options. No formal decision or vote was recorded during the work session.

The department’s budget materials will be considered alongside other county budgets in the county’s 2026 appropriation process.