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Groveland council rejects hiring three additional firefighter‑paramedics after fiscal concerns
Summary
The Groveland City Council on June 1 declined to authorize three new firefighter‑paramedic positions after a 2–3 vote, with the mayor and two council members citing the need for more detailed financial analysis. The Fire Chief had argued the hires would reduce overtime and enable a quick response vehicle.
The Groveland City Council voted down a proposal to add three firefighter‑paramedics on June 1, 2026, after council members said they needed more detail about the long‑term budget impact.
Fire Chief Kevin Carroll presented a staffing and deployment plan that would raise shift staffing to 13 firefighters when fully implemented, allow the department to staff a tower truck full time instead of cross‑staffing, and operate a two‑person Quick Response Vehicle (QRV) roughly 40% of the time. Chief Carroll said the proposal would reduce unscheduled overtime, lower wear and tear on frontline apparatus and defer a planned $1.2 million engine replacement. He reviewed projected savings and costs in attachments provided to council, including a QRV cost estimate of $200,000–$250,000 and overtime savings forecasted across several fiscal years.
Council Member Stephen Shylkofski moved to authorize the hiring; Council Member Amy Jo Carroll seconded. The motion failed 2–3, with Shylkofski and Carroll voting yes and Council Member Michael Jaycox, Vice Mayor Barbara Gaines and Mayor Keith Keogh voting no. After the vote, council directed staff to return with additional financial information about Fire Department operations, staffing alternatives and funding options as part of the upcoming budget workshops.
Supporters of the proposal argued the hires would reduce mandatory overtime and improve employee wellness, while those opposing or hesitating emphasized the need to understand the proposal’s multi‑year effect on the general fund, capital replacement schedules and revenue projections before committing to new recurring personnel costs.
Public commenters praised Chief Carroll’s presentation and urged careful financial review; Banks Helfrick spoke generally about community service and Chris Walker commended the department’s transparency.
The Council did not adopt the staffing change; staff will supply more detailed cost and funding analysis during budget discussions scheduled in the coming months.
