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Fire chief asks for $96,547 appropriation to hire three firefighters ahead of FY27
Summary
The fire chief requested a mid‑year appropriation of $96,547 to hire three firefighters and buy equipment so they can complete training before FY27; chief said hiring now reduces overtime and improves training capacity but no formal council vote appears in the transcript excerpt.
Chief Hedman asked the council to approve a resolution appropriating $96,547 to hire three firefighters and purchase personal protective equipment and radios so those hires can complete training before the fiscal year begins.
The chief explained that new hires require roughly two months of classroom and field training before they are scheduled on regular shifts. Hiring earlier would allow the department to run a training camp, improve training realism and reduce overtime costs in the long run. Chief Hedman said overtime savings would offset the positions’ full‑year cost once the hires complete training and start regular shifts.
The appropriation figure the chief listed included about $60,000 for two months of salaries for the three positions and about $39,000 for equipment and gear. He said the department is short by multiple employees and expects retirements; hiring now was framed as necessary to preserve training throughput and maintain operational readiness ahead of a busy summer season.
The transcript records the chief’s presentation and rationale but does not show a final roll call or recorded vote on this appropriation in the excerpt provided.
Next steps: The chief asked the council to approve the appropriation so hires can be brought in for May training, with the positions funded by the FY27 overtime reallocation thereafter.
