Debate over fire wages and a ballot question for 24-hour coverage dominates workshop

The fire department budget drew the meeting’s longest discussion, with members weighing wage increases, training, overtime and options to fund expanded coverage.

Committee members and staff reviewed different coverage scenarios and line-item changes. Staff explained that the department’s total payroll figures rose substantially after adding training, EPL and overtime and by counting the chief as a working (paid) chief. Members discussed the math behind full-time and per-diem staffing and how hours translate to the annual payroll line.

A major procedural option under consideration was a ballot question to fund additional coverage (described in staff notes as roughly $163,520 for 16 additional hours per day to achieve 24-hour, three-person coverage). "We can always stick a 163,000 on the ballot. People wanna vote for it," one committee member said, and members discussed how the ballot language should read ("24 hour coverage, 3 person, 7 days a week"). Some members urged caution over adding the cost inside the budget versus placing it as a separate voter-approved question.

Equipment needs were discussed in tandem. The chief asked for SCBA and air-pack replacement across multiple years; committee members recommended replacing only expiring units and asked the chief to bring a prioritized list. Suggestions included staging purchases (e.g., $60,000 next year and $60,000 the following year) to avoid a single large spike in expenditures. Protective clothing and turnout-gear replacement was also discussed, with members proposing phased purchases and confirming which items are expiring.

The committee made no final budget vote on the fire request during the workshop; members agreed to invite the chief to the next meeting for detailed numbers and to refine ballot question language and cost estimates before recommending placement to voters.