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Proposed Fire Department Budget Includes Funds for New Paramedics, New Pasadena Outreach Response Team, Efforts to Double Number of Women Firefighters

Published on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | 5:49 am
 

The Pasadena Fire Department is proposing a budget of $59.360 million for Fiscal Year 2023.

This is an increase of 5.3% from the current budget of $56.386 million.

During the meeting of the Public Safety Committee, Fire Chief Chad Augustin said 84 % of the budget or $49.919 million will be allocated for personnel costs.

The budget adds to the department six half time paramedic intern positions. The budget will also fund increases in personnel benefits.

Of the total budget, $4.779 million will go to services and supplies, $141,151 will go to capital outlay and $4.507 million will go to internal service charges. $14,785 is allocated to operating transfer out.

Augustin reported that this year, the department was able to fill all vacancies in the Fire Prevention Bureau and added a second Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT).

PORT’s goal is to identify individuals impacted by homelessness and through supportive services and case management, assist them in moving off the streets into permanent housing. Augustin said this year, PORT housed 45 people and placed additional 43 personnel in treatment.

This year, the department also implemented monthly professional development training across all ranks, according to Augustin.

For the year 2023, the fire department will prioritize the remodeling of aging fire stations with the focus on Stations 31 and 38.

Augustin said the department will also continue to improve its local recruitment programs such as the Paramedic Intern Program, Fire Explorer Program, Girls Camp and Pasadena Unified School Program.

“One new program for us will be the Girls Camp and we will have funding for that,” Augustin said, further adding that the program will help the department reach its goal of “doubling the number of females” in the next three years.

Augustin said a budget surplus of over $1 million had been recorded last year. This fiscal year, the fire department is expecting a surplus of around $800,000. The primary reason for this is the department’s unfunded academies, according to Augustin.

Augustin expressed hopes the department’s budget surplus will decrease in 2023.

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