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Polk County approves 75 new Fire Rescue positions in bid to reduce mandatory overtime
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners authorized creation of 75 full-time first-responder positions in Polk County Fire Rescue, estimated to cost $9.2 million annually. The board approved an initial funding transfer of roughly $4.6 million from the general fund reserve for budget stabilization to cover the remainder of the current fiscal year.
Polk County commissioners on Feb. 18 voted to create 75 new full-time positions within Polk County Fire Rescue to reduce recurring mandatory overtime across field operations.
The manager's office said the measure is intended to improve work-life balance for first responders, reduce excessive mandatory overtime and strengthen recruitment and retention. Staff estimated an annual cost of about $9,200,000 for the 75 positions; for the remainder of fiscal year 2024-25 the county will transfer roughly half that amount (about $4,600,000) from the general fund reserve for budget stabilization to the fire general fund. The reserve is expected to be replenished during the FY 2025-26 budget process.
Commissioners asked for a hiring plan and timeline. "75 positions are a lot. So I would like to see...the plan that you're gonna have to get to the 75 positions," a commissioner said during the discussion. County staff and other commissioners noted Polk County has hired more than 75 firefighters per year in recent years and that Fire Rescue had recently taken recruiting in-house; supporters said the department had made progress recruiting and that the new positions are a significant step toward becoming a "destination employer." The board approved the creation of the positions on a motion, second and affirmative vote.
Less critical detail: staff said the positions would be a mix of firefighters, paramedics and EMTs and that subsequent annual funding would come from a combination of general fund and fire fund allocations.
