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Fire department urges six hires to reduce dropped calls as court debates CAD funding
Summary
Potter County fire officials asked the commissioners court to approve six new firefighter positions to enable 24-hour coverage and reduce high dropped-call rates, while commissioners questioned the sustainability of using CAD (sales-tax) funds and fund balance for recurring salaries.
The Potter County fire-department representative asked the commissioners court for six additional firefighters, saying the hires are the minimum needed to move toward 24‑hour station coverage and reduce a historically high number of missed responses. The speaker told the court the six positions would cost about $458,000 in salaries and benefits and argued the CAD (2% sales tax) revenue model can support staffing if the court rethinks allocations.
“Even before COVID, we had 41 percent drop call,” the fire representative said, describing years when volunteers and minimal paid staff left the department unable to cover many calls. The chief urged a mix of short-term hires and longer-term planning, including equipment-replacement funds, so rescues and fire apparatus remain reliable.
Commissioners pressed several financial questions: whether recurring salaries should be paid from fund balance, whether the CAD allocation percentages (40/30/20/10) remain appropriate, and whether a sinking fund or policy should be created to protect capital reserves. One commissioner said reallocating CAD money requires a transparent policy and a review of which recipients “need the money most.”
The court did not adopt a final action in the transcripted segments. Commissioners asked staff to return with detailed budget scenarios, potential reallocation options, and a clear policy for protecting reserves before committing to recurring salary increases.
