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Surf City budget preview: grant writer, communications specialist, fire ladder and hydrant program top staff requests
Summary
Staff introduced department budget requests and capital priorities for FY27, including a recommended task-order grant writer, a proposed emergency‑management communications specialist, a multi‑million‑dollar ladder‑truck replacement with final staffing phases for the fire department, and a proposed acceleration of hydrant replacements; council asked for more analysis and will review CIP and financing options.
Town staff used the work session to present department budget requests and to flag major capital and staffing asks council will consider in the coming budget cycle.
Key staffing and program requests: the manager proposed hiring a contract grant writer to pursue pre‑award and post‑award grant compliance and reimbursement work; the manager described the position as task‑order based and split between the general and enterprise funds. "Engaging the task order based grant services would allow the town to strategically pursue funding opportunities while ensuring compliance and financial integrity," staff said.
Emergency management/public communications: staff proposed an emergency‑management communications specialist to strengthen daily messaging and emergency preparedness outreach; staff said the role could be partly funded by project‑specific sources where appropriate and would work in coordination with parks and recreation on event communications.
Public safety capital and staffing: the fire department requested the final phase of a staffing plan to staff a ladder company and an associated ladder truck. Fire leadership estimated the ladder‑truck procurement to be in the $2.5–$3.0 million range and asked for three battalion chiefs plus three firefighters as the last phase of its staffing plan. Council discussed whether to finance the apparatus or pay cash and asked staff for analysis of financing options and timing.
Water, sewer and hydrants: public works presented enterprise‑funded projects including resiliency funding, a wastewater digester to reduce contract sludge hauling and a plan to accelerate hydrant replacements. Staff said 57 hydrants installed before 1968 remain and proposed increasing replacement from five to ten hydrants per year — a move that would reduce long‑term risk but would require frequent off‑season work and repeated boil‑water advisories for affected areas; council asked staff to return with options and a public communications plan.
Budget process and next steps: staff outlined the timeline: a follow‑up budget workshop is scheduled (April 1) and the manager’s recommended budget will be presented April 7; council must adopt a budget by June 30. Staff said more refined CIP proposals and financing analyses — including debt versus pay‑cash options for major capital items — will be provided for council review.
