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SFFD to delay academies, cut capital and propose $4.3M prevention reduction amid revenue drop
Summary
Finance director Mark Corso and Fire Marshal Dan DeCozio told commissioners the department aims to meet an initial 10% reduction target by postponing fire academy classes, deferring equipment and capital projects and proposing roughly $4.3 million in fire-prevention reductions tied to a projected $5 million drop in prevention revenue.
At the Aug. 12 Fire Commission meeting, Deputy Director Mark Corso and Fire Marshal Dan DeCozio outlined departmental steps to absorb citywide budget cuts. Corso said the city faces roughly a $1.6 billion two-year deficit and that departments were asked to identify significant savings; the department's baseline decreased by about $11.5 million as part of the adjustments.
To meet targets while protecting frontline emergency services, Corso said the department proposed postponing at least one firefighter academy, reducing some training staff and cutting capital allocations including vehicle and facility projects. He said the department is pursuing FEMA grants to help with staffing and emphasized that many reductions target non-frontline infrastructure, though they carry operational risk.
Fire Marshal Dan DeCozio said the Bureau of Fire Prevention expects a roughly $5 million revenue shortfall driven by loss of public assembly permits and lower plan-review fees; operational permits were approximately 20% of normal during the pandemic and plan review activity about 50% of normal. The proposed prevention reductions total roughly $4.3 million, largely from overtime reductions and deferred work that could slow construction reviews and non-critical inspections. DeCozio stressed state-mandated annual inspections (high-rise, R-1/R-2 occupancies) would remain a priority and said there are about 10 vacancies in inspection ranks currently frozen pending revenue recovery.
Commissioners asked whether layoffs were anticipated; DeCozio and Corso said positions were being held rather than eliminated and that the department aimed to re-evaluate hiring as revenues recover. Commissioners also explored add-back mechanisms through supervisors and whether community fundraising ('Friends of the Fire Department') could supplement budgets; Corso said add-backs are possible and historically have been pursued during negotiations, but that fee or code changes would require a longer legislative process.
The commission asked for hearing dates and times; Corso said initial hearings were scheduled for Aug. 14 and Aug. 20 with final Board action expected in late September. No formal vote was taken by the commission on budget reductions at this meeting.
