Pasadena Fire Department Seeks 11% Budget Increase

Pasadena Fire officials are set to present the Fire Department’s recommended Fiscal Year 2024 operating budget to the Public Safety Committee on Wednesday. The presentation outlines an 11% budget increase of $6.51 million from the previous year, citing rising personnel, services, supplies, and internal services costs as contributing factors.

The Pasadena Fire Department, an all-hazard unit, provides emergency response and public safety services to the community through several divisions, including Fire Administration, Community Risk Reduction / Fire Prevention Bureau, Fire Operations, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

The department’s front-line apparatus includes 8 engines, 2 trucks, and 6 rescue ambulances, which responded to 20,618 emergency calls in 2022.

Currently, the department employs 193.5 full-time equivalent personnel, including 8 unfunded Firefighter Trainees, 162 Sworn Personnel, and 23.5 Professional Personnel. It is looking to fill seven sworn vacancies and two professional vacancies and anticipates up to five more sworn vacancies within the calendar year 2023.

The proposed budget increase would be used to fund a number of initiatives, including:
• Hiring 10 new firefighters
• Purchasing new fire apparatus
• Upgrading fire stations
• Expanding fire prevention programs
• Increasing EMS services

The proposed budget increase for FY 2024 is largely driven by personnel costs, which have risen by $5.3 million (10.5%). This increase includes $2.02 million in proposed personnel enhancements, a $2.5 million increase from the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Safety Personnel Retirement System (SPERS), overtime, and post control increases, and a $700,000 increase from medical, benefits, and workers’ compensation.

Services & Supplies have also increased by $493,000 (10.3%), with $163,000 proposed for non-personal enhancements and contractual increases based on pre-established agreements and escalating insurance premiums. The department is also factoring in costs for EMT and Paramedic certifications and renewable diesel prices.

Internal Services costs have risen by $860,000 (19.1%), with $821,000 going towards building safety and facility maintenance and equipment replacement, and an additional $300,000 for the maintenance of the Jefferson Elementary property.

In addition to the general budget increase, the department is requesting enhancements totaling $2,182,748, which includes six Firefighter Paramedic positions ($1,056,796) to staff the sixth frontline rescue ambulance, two Firefighter (56 Hour) positions ($313,630) to alleviate overtime/position coverage costs, one Fire Captain position ($83,541) to manage all special events and oversight of EMS program components, and three 0.5 FTE positions ($65,781) for additional Paramedic Internship participation.

The department has also budgeted for $500,000 in position coverage costs to provide adequate backfill for annual Recruit Academies, $37,000 for annual lease payments at Jefferson Elementary, and $126,000 for turnouts, personal protective equipment, and radios for six new Firefighter Paramedics.

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget plan aims to generate $9,000,000 in EMS Transport Revenue, a $2,350,000 increase from the previous year. This projection is based on current transport trends and an increase in the EMS Transport Fee.

The Fire Prevention Bureau, a key arm of the department, has faced challenges in the past with high vacancy rates, low compliance with state-mandated inspections, and slow turnaround times for plan reviews and new construction inspections.

However, significant changes have been implemented, according the Fire Dept. report, and the Bureau has been fully staffed as of FY 2022.

The Bureau has recommended additional positions for FY 2024, including a Senior Fire Inspector and two Fire Inspectors, to reduce inspection turnaround times and to ensure completion of mandated inspections. The addition of these positions is expected to yield approximately $221,814 in additional revenue.

Further, the bureau has proposed revised fees, including a Film Permit Processing Adjustment, which is estimated to generate an additional $172,294 in revenue.

In addition to these financial changes, the department’s Fiscal Year 2024 work plan outlines an ongoing commitment to recruitment and retention efforts. This includes the completion of annual recruit academies to address vacancies and attrition, providing up-to-date safety equipment and personal protective gear, and continuing local area recruitment efforts such as the Paramedic Internship Program and Girl’s Camp 2023.

The work plan also includes updates and changes to EMS and Prevention Programs and coordination with Public Works to complete fire station rehabilitation projects and ensure timely repair and replacement of emergency vehicles and apparatus.

The Fire Dept. report goes before City Councilmembers during the Public Safety Committee meeting on set for May 17 at 4:00 p.m. in Cityb Hall Council Chambers. The meeting can be watched live at http://pasadena.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=9 and also also at www.PasadenaMedia.org.