Fire chief warns staffing cuts would push daily minimums, increase overtime

Fire Chief Geyser told the Biloxi City Council the fire department is operating with about 162 firefighters and that proposed reductions could drop staffing to roughly 159, leaving the city ‘‘real close’’ to the daily minimum staffing threshold of 46 seats.

"We're starting to kinda cut it real close in regards to staffing the trucks adequately," Chief Geyser said, explaining that leaves little cushion for military leave, FMLA, sick leave or vacations and forces additional overtime. He said the department had 172 allocated positions in 2017 and has repeatedly requested additional positions to reach adequate shift staffing levels.

Council members and staff discussed the budget mechanics behind the staffing numbers. The chief described a recent training-and-hiring cadence that typically takes about 20 weeks for recruits; he said the department expected a new hire class to start on August 12 and noted an option to place recruits on shift earlier while completing EMT/basic training over roughly six weeks.

Council members pressed on cost implications. Using salary estimates discussed at the meeting, adding roughly 18 firefighters would raise annual personnel costs by a ballpark of about $1.2 million, a figure the council used for budgeting discussion; staff cautioned that the $1.2 million estimate excluded full outfit and equipment costs, including turnout gear and training. "That doesn't include the cost to outfit them," a staff member said, noting turnout gear and other one-time costs can be significant.

The chief also outlined operational offsets the department uses, including a recurring "fire rebate fund" that can cover some software and equipment expenses and a partnership with an ambulance provider that has reduced some medical-call volume. The council did not take final action but acknowledged the staffing shortfall as a budget priority and asked for additional detail in upcoming committee meetings.