Council approves midyear budget amendments, authorizes short-term staffing for Fire Station 4 and asks staff to include alternatives for FY26

The Palo Alto City Council on Feb. 24 approved a midyear fiscal 2025 budget report that includes technical adjustments and a set of urgent needs staff said require near-term funding, most notably steps to improve response capacity in South Palo Alto by restoring a staffed engine at Fire Station 4.

The council approved staff recommendations by unanimous roll-call vote to amend the fiscal 2025 appropriation, adjust the table of organization and authorize short-term staffing measures while directing staff to return with options to incorporate longer-term staffing in the fiscal 2026 proposed budget.

What the council approved: Staff recommended and the council approved adjustments across funds that staff said are largely technical but also address identified urgent needs. Key actions in the adopted midyear package include:

- Authorization for overtime and an over‑strength captain position to cross‑staff a fire engine and ambulance at Fire Station 4 on a 24/7 basis through the end of fiscal year 2025 as a near‑term solution; staff estimated the remainder of FY25 cost at roughly $300,000 and an annualized cost near $1,000,000 if maintained.

- Table‑of‑organization changes: add 1 FTE senior buyer and 1 FTE program assistant, eliminate 1 FTE contract administrator, and authorize an over‑strength 1 FTE fire…