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Hot Springs council boosts volunteer fire subsidy to $100,000; defers hiring new police officer amid budget shortfall
Summary
At a special Hot Springs City Council budget session, council members agreed to increase the city subsidy to the volunteer Hot Springs Fire Department to $100,000 by reallocating small line items, and left a proposed full‑time police officer unresolved as they weigh a $109,750 recurring cost against a projected general fund shortfall.
At a special meeting, the Hot Springs City Council heard public comment from the volunteer fire department and moved to increase the city’s annual subsidy to the department to $100,000, the mayor and multiple council members said. The council approved reallocating modest line items — including suggested reductions to Historic Preservation Commission and Boys & Girls Club allocations — to cover part of the increase while staff and council agreed to meet regularly with the department to review large one‑time needs.
The council heard a detailed plea from Ken Tomseggard, who described the fire department’s training, mutual‑aid arrangements and aging apparatus and urged the council to address replacement and repair needs. Tomseggard told the council: “That’s millions of dollars in premium that’s being saved because of [the] fire…
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