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Port Royal fire chief outlines personnel costs, Station 1 remodel and Ladies Island contract
Summary
The fire department described salary and benefits increases tied to a compensation study, Port Royal’s $32,004.23 share for a new truck payment, plans to fund a Station 1 remodel from TIF 2, and a goal to renegotiate a rising Ladies Island contract toward automatic aid.
The town’s fire department asked council to note personnel wage increases driven by a recent compensation study and outlined capital and contract costs that affect Port Royal’s FY27 budget.
The fire department presenter said salary and benefit increases were the largest FY27 pressures, reflecting an effort to make firefighter/EMT/paramedic pay competitive across the county and state. The department reported Port Royal’s share of a new lighter truck payment at $32,004.23 and said initial down payments and impact fees reduced the financed amount.
The chief said Station 1 requires repairs and that the department continues to pursue co‑locating Beaufort County EMS at Station 1; those remodel costs will come from TIF 2 funds, with the city willing to negotiate additions with the county. On interlocal contracts, the presenter said the Ladies Island contract — which the city paid more than $500,000 for 349 responses last year — increases annually based on annexation and property values and cannot be terminated without one year’s notice; the department will seek renegotiation toward an automatic aid agreement.
Why it matters: The town’s capital and contract obligations — combined with salary increases — explain shifts in departmental capital lines. Council was shown that the large apparent decrease in FY27 capital compared with FY26 is largely explained by a ladder truck purchase included in last year’s budget and by moving debt service into a consolidated city account.
Other notes: The presenter clarified how the city uses a "rooftop" count (each building is one rooftop) to split shared costs with Beaufort, and said recent pay increases varied roughly 3%–12% by certification level, with larger increases for paramedics. The presentation closed with thanks for the council’s support and a statement that staffing and equipment remain priorities.
