Fire department flags PFAS-driven gear costs, aging rigs and higher maintenance in budget hearing

Fire department leaders told the council that several line items in the proposed budget rose because of changes in gear specifications and an aging apparatus fleet.

Officials said a federal or industry ban on PFAS chemicals in turnout gear — described in the hearing as ‘forever chemicals’ linked to firefighter health risks — has increased the price of compliant gear and reduced expected service life from roughly 10 years to 5–7 years. To mitigate immediate cost spikes, the department said it negotiated pre-compliance prices to acquire about 330 sets at earlier rates; absent that early purchase, replacement costs would have been substantially higher.

The department described a $450,000 increase categorized in the budget as 'non-capital furniture' that mainly pays for mobile radios and the supporting communications infrastructure. Training textbooks, EMS perishable supplies and AED pads were listed as additional drivers of modest increases.

Fleet maintenance was another major line item. The department said its repair spending is trending near $1,000,000 year to date as older engines (some 20–27 years old) require more drivetrain and body repairs; the department proposed increasing repair budgets to sustain operations and described a multi-year apparatus-replacement plan intended to phase in new rigs to avoid large spikes in capital costs.

Fire officials also confirmed planned generators for five stations — Engines 19 and 26 first, then others before winter — and said backup power will be completed ahead of the cold season. The department reported that about 80–87% of its overtime is contractual (such as minimum-manning and backfill for training), with other overtime driven by backfilling recruits and operational needs.

Council members pressed for data on replacement timelines, retention and the relationship between longtime outsourcing of some services and salary competitiveness for mechanics. Fire leadership said part of the higher repair line stems from outsourcing caused by a shortage of in-house mechanics and that they hope salary adjustments will improve retention.

The department closed by noting it currently projects year-end spending lower than last year’s total due to discretionary controls but asked council for continued attention to fleet and protective-equipment funding to maintain safety and operations.