Parma council reviews 2026 public-safety budgets as officials flag equipment, station and staffing costs

Parma City Council reviewed the 2026 public‑safety budget proposals at a budget hearing, as department leaders flagged equipment replacements, facility repairs and near‑term staffing changes that will shape spending next year.

Fire Chief Lasky told council the fire budget reflects contractual salary and benefit costs and a series of planned repairs and equipment work. The department has identified obsolete windows at Stations 4 and 5 (built in 1969) and is budgeting about $30,000 for window replacement work, Lasky said. He also described plans to remount an ambulance — removing the back, refurbishing the patient compartment and placing it on a new chassis — at an estimated cost of $250,000, and said new ambulances and fire trucks now cost in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. “To buy a new ambulance nowadays is $450,000. To buy a new fire truck is over $1,000,000 now,” the chief said.

Chief Lasky and councilors discussed a Knox Box lockbox pilot for seniors, with the department proposing to buy standardized boxes so installers and dispatch use a consistent system. Lasky said simple installs could be handled by department staff but more complicated ones would be evaluated case by case.

TJ Martin, director of the regional dispatch center, presented a budget that he said trimmed the bottom line slightly from prior plans while accounting for contractual pay adjustments. Martin highlighted an aging uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in the comms center and said the department contracted a maintenance program that visits twice yearly; he noted a full UPS replacement or major repairs could be costly. Martin also told council the center is budgeted for 24 full‑time dispatchers but currently has 22; the plan is to hire and better train part‑time staff so they can fill every role and reduce overtime.

Police Chief Riley framed the police request as “data driven,” noting five retirements expected in 2026 and the department’s intent to replace officers without increasing net headcount. Riley said the department recorded about $782,000 in comp‑time payouts last year and is studying ways to trim overtime through scheduling and training. On equipment, Riley described a vehicle‑rotation plan that would add two new cruisers per year rather than replacing several at once. He also reviewed recent use of a grappler device intended to end pursuits, reporting 12 deployment attempts across 2025–26 and four successful grapples; Riley said the department will evaluate longer‑term investment and training needs before expanding the program.

Lieutenant Jackson discussed the corrections and jail budget, noting a roughly 6% proposed increase driven largely by contractual pay changes and rising costs for food and medical services. Jackson said the jail is nearing full staffing, is recruiting to reach its target complement, and plans a limited expansion of part‑time capacity to reduce overtime and training time when vacancies occur.

Safety Director Corey briefed council on the broader safety budget. He said the city renegotiated GATSO camera fees and is budgeting conservatively after a new five‑year contract reduced expected costs. Corey also walked through traffic signal and lighting requests (including signal cabinet and stock purchases for aging intersections) and set aside funding for potential paving or retaining‑wall work at a planned Safety Town site.

Council leaders asked for follow‑up details on specific capital items and for staff to return with refined cost estimates before the council votes on the appropriation. The chair moved and council approved a procedural motion to excuse two absent members, then adjourned the hearing at 7:55 p.m.

What’s next: staff will provide more detailed line‑item backup for larger capital requests (station repairs, UPS replacement options, traffic signal upgrades) before the March 16 budget vote.