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Fire chief outlines needs as council warns budget model is unsustainable
Summary
Fire Chief Terry Eshery presented a FY27 operating plan with flat personnel before bargaining, end-of-life equipment replacements and seven retirements; council emphasized that personnel-driven cost growth outpaces revenue and discussed revenue options and a short-term $5M fleet‑fund transfer to shore up reserves.
Fire Chief Terry Eshery gave a high‑level overview of the department and its FY27 budget outlook. The department is an ISO Class 1 agency with 157 firefighters across six stations, responds to about 12,000 calls a year (roughly 65% EMS) and typically runs about 40 structure fires annually. Chief Eshery said the upcoming budget is roughly $36 million — a decrease from prior years — and described a near‑flat personnel…
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