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Fire chief warns of long apparatus lead times, maintenance overruns and budget pressure
Summary
The fire chief told the council call volume is down about 20% from last year but vehicle maintenance is over budget; he warned lead times for new apparatus remain around three years and said several vehicles will soon exceed expected service life.
The Essex Junction fire chief told the City Council on May 27 that calendar‑year 2026 call volumes are roughly 20% lower than at the same point in 2025, reducing salary spending, but that vehicle maintenance costs are tracking above budget. “Right now, about 20% lower than where we were last year at this time,” the chief said of call volume; he added that the department allocates $25,000 annually for vehicle maintenance but had already exceeded that number and expected an additional $5,000 repair for the ladder truck next week.
The chief urged attention to the long procurement lead times for apparatus—manufacturers' lead times remain near three years—and reminded the council that several pieces of apparatus will reach their 20‑year service life within the next decade, increasing long‑term rolling‑stock costs. Councilors asked about financing mechanics for ordering equipment in advance and whether contract options like partial down payments could reduce costs; the chief said funding must be secured before entering contracts and that the city will discuss rolling‑stock funding in a dedicated June agenda item.
