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Fire chief requests battalion chiefs, six firefighters and contingency for future engine as council reviews FY26 budget
Summary
The fire department asked the council to fund three battalion‑chief shift commanders, six firefighter positions (partly tied to a SAFER grant) and to budget for an engine that typically takes three to four years to build and deliver.
Taylor’s fire leadership told the council on June 24 that growing call volumes, complex incidents and industrial development necessitate additions to supervisory and line staffing as part of the FY26 budget process.
The department requested three battalion chief positions—one to command each shift—and explained the role would provide shift leadership, incident‑command capacity and career progression for line staff. The chief described current arrangements in which lieutenants fill command functions at incidents and outside assistance is sometimes required for complex events.
The department also asked for six firefighter positions to staff a planned squad truck. City staff noted a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application was submitted and could fund personnel; if the SAFER grant is not awarded, the budget includes only limited contingency funding that may allow one battalion‑chief hire.
Staff also flagged a long lead time for an additional engine (three to four years) and noted recent apparatus prices: a recently delivered engine cost a little under $700,000 and, because contracts are generally fixed‑price at order, the city expects the price quoted on orders to be honored at delivery.
The fire chief connected the requests to the 2022 fire master plan recommendations, which highlighted a future Fire Station 3 in South Taylor and the need to move from two staffed engine companies per day toward additional staffed companies as the city grows.
Ending: The chief asked council to prioritize the battalion‑chief positions as the department’s most urgent need; staff said they would consider how contingency funding and grant outcomes affect final recommendations.
