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Shorewood approves Excelsior Fire District operating and facilities budgets totaling $2,725,948
Summary
The Shorewood City Council adopted Resolutions 25-078 and 25-079 approving the Excelsior Fire District's 2026 operating budget (recorded in the transcript as $2,725,948) and its facilities budget after discussion of SCBA purchases, battalion-chief hires and service implications.
The Shorewood City Council on Aug. 25 approved two resolutions accepting the Excelsior Fire District's proposed 2026 operating and facilities budgets. Fire Chief Mackey and Assistant Chief Basinger reviewed the budgets and answered council questions about staffing, equipment and response times.
Chief Mackey said a large portion of the proposed operating budget is attributable to planned SCBA purchases and the department's proposal to add battalion chiefs. He stated the proposed operating budget amount as "two million seven hundred twenty-five thousand nine hundred and forty-eight dollars" and explained the Fire Board recommended version 7.2 of the budget. Councilmembers debated whether to delay hires, the timing of salary increases, and whether cities should pay for additional senior positions. Councilmember Maddy said the board had substantial support for the staffing plan and noted the battalion-chief hire had been previously approved by member cities.
Councilmember Sanschagrin moved and Councilmember Maddy seconded adoption of Resolution 25-078, "A Resolution Approving the 2026 Annual Operating Budget of the Excelsior Fire District." The motion passed on a roll call vote; the transcript records the passage but does not list an individual roll-call tally. Maddy then moved and Sanschagrin seconded adoption of Resolution 25-079, the 2026 Annual Facilities Budget; that motion also passed on roll call.
During discussion, Chief Mackey described average response metrics the district reported: about two minutes in-service time and on-scene response times under five minutes, with roughly seven to ten firefighters responding per call. Councilmembers asked about liquidating older vehicles and other assets; Chief Mackey said they planned to dispose of older utility vehicles but were not planning to sell significant equipment tied to ISO ratings.
Both the operating and facilities resolutions were adopted by the Shorewood City Council as recorded in the meeting transcript.
