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Select Board reviews $260,859 FY27 Public Safety request; EMS transport shifts to shared model
Summary
Fire Chief Jesse Peters presented a $260,859 FY27 Public Safety request, driven by compensation and software costs. EMS transport is proposed as a shared service with North Yarmouth and Durham at $300 per call (about 100 calls/year), reducing projected transport costs to $30,000.
Fire Chief Jesse Peters presented the Public Safety department's FY27 budget request of $260,859, an increase from $233,861 in FY26. Peters summarized line-item drivers including software licensing (Station Boss), expanded compensation for a 26-member roster, and the continuation of a per-diem EMS program previously grant funded.
On EMS transport, Peters explained the town is shifting to a shared service model with North Yarmouth and Durham at an estimated $300 per call. "About 100" calls per year is the working figure for planning purposes, which yields approximately $30,000 in EMS transport expense for FY27. Peters also said the County added a $2,000 annual IT charge for dispatch and overall dispatch costs rose roughly 6%.
Board members asked whether outsourcing fire services could reduce costs; Peters said potential savings must be weighed against impacts on ISO ratings, insurance, and response times. The Board left the FY27 request as a basis for further discussion during budget deliberations and did not take an immediate final vote on the appropriation at this meeting.
