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Acting fire chief warns comp budget cuts could force parked apparatus and reduced ambulance service
Summary
Acting Fire Chief Aaron Dyer told the Council cuts totaling about $1.8 million from the department’s requested budget would create shortfalls across training, vehicle maintenance, PPE replacement and EMS supplies, potentially forcing the city to take apparatus or ambulances out of service.
Acting Fire Chief Aaron Dyer and Assistant Chief Robert Murphy told the Council that the comp budget cuts to the fire department would leave critical shortfalls and could force painful operational choices next year.
Dyer said the comp budget cut roughly $1.8 million from the department’s proposed request and removed funding for several lines that the department has been carrying to cover an underfunded code enforcement office. He listed immediate impacts: zeroed or reduced comp time and overtime contingency lines, a reduced primary training line (cut by $200,000 in the comp budget relative to the request), staff vehicle and fleet maintenance shortfalls, and significant cuts to the firefighters' equipment and personal protective equipment lines. "If we don't have the funding in those lines... we're gonna have to park apparatus and not use it," Dyer said, warning the city could be forced to run fewer ambulances or one fewer piece of frontline apparatus daily.
Dyer also advocated restoring a battalion chief position and funding targeted firefighter hires and lieutenants to meet contractual minimum staffing levels, describing the department as "at the rock bottom for staffing" and explaining that being short of critical positions drives daily overtime and increased risk. He said turnout gear now costs roughly $8,000 per firefighter (up from much lower prices a decade ago) and that replacing 15 sets of gear would cost roughly $120,000.
On revenue options, Dyer said the department already bills Medicare/insurers for ambulance transports and that the billing company collects about 80% of billed revenue; unpaid balances remain and the department is preparing an RFP to consider third‑party collections. He said some grant funding (SAFER) is covering existing firefighter positions now but that future grant cycles and the timing of grant obligations will affect the city's 2026 obligations.
Commissioners pressed for detail and for a prioritized list of three funding needs the department would ask the Council to restore if additional revenue becomes available. Finance Commissioner Sangvi and other council members agreed to meet with fire leadership and finance staff with 2015–2025 budget and actuals so the Council can identify contractual obligations and the most urgent restorations.
No formal vote or funding decision was taken at the workshop.
