Assembly members proposed an amendment to operationalize a newly revived Wildland Fire division within the Anchorage Fire Department by funding two full-time and one part-time positions (amendment estimate: $843,000). Sponsors said the positions are currently funded with federal grants and that formalizing their placement in the Fire Department would improve the municipality’s ability to pursue additional federal grants.

"By moving these positions formally within the Anchorage Fire Department, we actually put ourselves in a better position to go out and target further federal grants that can pay for this work," a sponsoring member said. Multiple members and OMB staff clarified that current grant funding supports the positions through 2027, so the amendment, as described, should not use remaining tax-cap room for 2026 if onboarded correctly.

OMB/administration staff cautioned that before structural/operational changes are finalized the Assembly should verify how the positions are reflected in the operating budget and grant schedules, calculate any long-term commitments if grants expire, and identify implications for 2027 and beyond.

No final vote on the amendment was recorded in the work session transcript; sponsors and administration staff said they would review how to onboard the positions to avoid tax-cap impacts and to confirm accounting between grant and operating lines.