Fire chief asks supervisors for paramedics, deputy fire marshal and COLA amid rising calls

Chief Moody presented the Fire & Rescue Department’s FY27 staffing and compensation request after outlining rising service demand.

The chief said the department handled 4,389 calls in 2024, an increase from the prior year, and described a pattern of rising transports and nonresident calls. He asked the board to consider a cost‑of‑living adjustment in the 1.5–3 percent range and requested seven full‑time positions (including four paramedics, one deputy fire marshal, one assistant training officer, one EMS supervisor), two academy overhires and one pharmacy technician. "I'm asking for 7 full time positions," he said, and explained hiring four paramedics provides the staffing to cover 24‑hour shifts.

Moody emphasized recruitment and retention pressures (21 personnel turnovers in one prior year; more modest turnover the current year) and argued some new positions are necessary to run training academies, meet certification requirements and expand fire prevention capacity — particularly with new commercial risks such as data centers and battery energy storage facilities.

Supervisors pressed for details on certification pay, preceptor workloads and whether some operational duties should be shifted between fire and EMS. Moody acknowledged prior oversight with regional precepting and said responsibility is shifting back to localities, requiring more local oversight; he also said the department enforces a four‑year repayment agreement for graduates who leave early to recoup training costs.

No formal vote occurred; the presentation was entered into the FY27 budget docket for further review and fiscal analysis.

What’s next: Chief Moody and administration will provide detailed cost estimates and breakdowns so the board can weigh personnel hires, COLA options and alternative funding or regional partnerships.