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Fire chief urges council to pursue alternative funding and add staffing as calls and system demands grow
Summary
The Fire Department presented a FY27 operating budget emphasizing staffing shortages, the need to staff Station 8 and plan for Station 9, and multiple alternative funding paths (federal SAFER grants, impact fees, TIF, fee‑for‑service) to avoid unsustainable local tax increases while maintaining response capability.
Fire Chief Bence told the council that current staffing and facility configurations strain operational readiness, recommended pursuing federal and state grants and other alternative funding mechanisms, and described pilots intended to reduce demand on full apparatus.
Why it matters: The chief said long‑term service reliability and firefighter safety depend on adding staff and stations. He urged the council to explore grants, fees and partnerships to reduce the burden on property taxpayers while addressing station, equipment and staffing gaps.
Chief Bence described the department’s FY27…
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