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Clayton County fire and EMS chiefs press for staff, units and 0.35-mil tax increase to protect Class 1 rating
Summary
Fire and EMS leaders told the county on April 27 that rising call volumes and aging equipment require dozens of new positions, two transport units and a proposed 0.35-mil fire millage increase to avoid losing the county’s Class 1 ISO rating and higher insurance costs for residents.
Fire and EMS leaders in Clayton County urged commissioners during the FY2027 budget review to approve large staffing and equipment increases, warning that failure to act would jeopardize the county’s public protection classification and stretch emergency response capacity.
"If we do not expand our firefighting this community, we will lose our Class 1 rating," Fire Chief Tim Sweater said, describing steps the department has taken after ISO downgraded the county from Class 1 to Class 2 and the corrective measures he submitted to retain the higher rating. Sweater asked for 22 additional fire personnel, reclassification of an executive position, one additional engine and a second aerial ladder company, and said the department would need a 0.35-mill increase on the fire millage to fund the expansion.
Sweater and EMS director Tim Sweater (same speaker) also presented EMS data showing demand has grown faster than capacity. The EMS presentation documented a 25% increase in call volume since 2019 (from 45,861 to 57,342 calls) and counted numerous monthly "level 0" incidents when no ambulances were available, forcing fire trucks to provide medical care on scene. The EMS request included 24 new positions (including paramedic sergeants), two additional transport units to restore coverage in Districts 1 and 3, $50,000 for signing bonuses and a significant increase in medical supplies funding (the department requested $800,000; finance recommended $600,000).
Sweater said that the loss of a Class 1 rating would likely raise insurance premiums and could harm economic development efforts that rely on the high public-safety classification. "A Class 1 rating is less than 5% of fire departments in the United States," he said, urging the board to consider the cost of doing nothing alongside the proposed tax increase.
The chiefs provided a multi-year equipment replacement plan for cardiac monitors and other life‑support devices and described operational impacts if the positions and apparatus are not funded, including sustained staffing fatigue and longer response times. No formal vote was taken during the presentation; the requests will be included in the ongoing budget deliberations and public hearings.
