Council restores six firefighter positions, authorizes modest budget augmentation to reduce overtime
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Summary
To address rising call volume and chronic overtime costs, the council approved restoring six previously delayed firefighter positions (to be converted to firefighter‑paramedics), authorizing a $51,850 one‑time augmentation for FY25‑26 and an ongoing cost increase for paramedic pay; staff expects the hires to cut overtime and reduce on‑the‑job injuries.
Vacaville — Facing 20 suppression vacancies and growing overtime costs, the City Council voted March 24 to restore six previously delayed firefighter positions and convert them to firefighter‑paramedics, a move staff said will reduce reliance on overtime and ease staffing fatigue.
Deputy Chief Alex Noreau told council the fire department's call volume has risen significantly over five years and that minimum staffing levels grew from 19 to 29 over the last decade. Because the department relied on overtime to fill unstaffed positions, staff said fatigue and on‑the‑job injuries increased. Restoring six positions and converting them to firefighter‑paramedics, staff said, would allow the department to fill current vacancies through one hiring cohort and reduce overtime costs by an estimated $1.3 million to $1.5 million annually if projections hold.
Staff recommended a one‑time FY25‑26 augmentation of $51,850 to fund the remainder of the hiring and academy costs this fiscal year and estimated an ongoing annual net cost of roughly $141,000 to cover the paramedic pay differential. The council discussed recruitment: staff reported a recent two‑week recruitment drew 42 qualified applicants and that 13 hires were in process. Training will include a 20‑week academy with pay for recruits during training; staff said most attrition occurs later in training and they have adjusted screening to reduce losses.
Council members asked for additional detail on overtime drivers and workplace injuries; the chief said the department is conducting a deep‑dive review of five years of overtime and injury data and will return with validated figures. The council approved the augmentation and restoration by unanimous roll call vote.
Provenance: Fire department presentation and subsequent motion and vote at the March 24 council meeting; staff Q&A and commitments to further analysis included in the hearing record.
