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Fire chief urges county to address long list of unfunded capital needs, highlights EMS workload as he prepares to retire
Summary
At a Cherokee County Board meeting the retiring fire chief reviewed department spending (personnel is ~82% of the budget), said SPLOST alone won’t cover an estimated $122 million in unfunded capital needs, flagged response‑time gaps and rising EMS call volume (projected >25,000 in 2026), and asked commissioners for help addressing staffing and equipment shortfalls.
At a Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meeting, the county’s fire chief delivered his final annual report before retirement, outlining staffing, equipment and capital shortfalls and urging the board to help close funding gaps.
The chief told commissioners that roughly 82% of the department’s costs shown on a budget slide are personnel and that only about 10% of funding goes to operational items such as vehicle maintenance and turnout gear. He said SPLOST has been crucial for capital purchases but warned it will not cover all needs: “That’s about a $122,000,000 in today’s dollars,” he said, describing the department’s unfunded project list through the 2036 SPLOST horizon.
Why it matters: the presentation combined budget data with operational metrics that shape public safety planning — from certification and training to equipment replacement. The chief reported an attrition rate of about 8% (including retirements), said roughly 38% of field personnel are certified paramedics with another cohort in paramedic training, and projected more than 25,000 EMS calls for 2026, a level that strains response capacity and affects response‑time goals.
Commissioners and staff pressed on details but acknowledged the trends. The chief emphasized training and prevention work — smoke‑alarm blitzes and car‑seat inspections — as life‑saving efforts, and highlighted specialized capabilities (hazmat, dive, trench rescue) as expensive but essential. He also noted improvements in commercial building inspections, saying this is the first year the county is on track for comprehensive inspections of occupied commercial buildings.
The report included concrete requests and proposals: continuing to prioritize paramedic training and retention, exploring pathways to fund large capital items beyond SPLOST proceeds, and sustaining investments in special operations and equipment testing. The chief closed by thanking staff, volunteers and the board for support and reiterated his confidence that the department will continue to advance after his retirement.
The board moved on to recognition items and the evening’s agenda, including a hero award presentation by the District Attorney’s Office.
