Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Department topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alice council hears why fire overtime is high and how outside-response billing could offset costs
Summary
Council questioned a $700,000 overtime estimate for the fire department and pressed staff on vehicle maintenance and new billing for outside responses. The fire chief said new software will allow billing outside city limits and that billing inside the city would require council action.
Council members pressed fire leadership on rising overtime and vehicle-maintenance costs as staff walked through the fire department’s budget increases.
Garza asked whether the overtime increase to $700,000 was tied to staffing shortages; staff and the fire chief said vacancies and unpredictable large incidents make overtime difficult to control. The presenter noted vacancies had been reduced from about seven to three and that catastrophic events can suddenly increase overtime demands.
Council also asked whether revenue from billing outside responses could be used to buy PPE. Bowen asked whether outside billing would be ready and if that revenue could purchase PPE; the fire chief, Patrick, explained the city is updating its software to enable outside billing and estimated readiness by October 1. Patrick said, “We can bill the person, the insurance or where wherever else is responsible for that.” He added that the county’s umbrella arrangement already allows billing for responses outside incorporated city limits and that inside-city billing would require separate council action.
Staff told council PPE needs for this year are covered regardless of billing timing, but outside-billing revenue could begin to offset costs once collections are processed.
