Idaho Falls City Council considers new fire department budget

Funding for the Idaho Falls Fire Department is a big issue the City Council is considering for the budget.

The fire department needs funding for the new ambulance, more fire fighters and a new fire station.

A study done last year shows that the floors in the 85-year-old fire station can’t hold the weight of the new fire engines. In last year’s budget, a $2.5 million place holder was approved for a new station. Based on estimates, it looks like IFFD is going to need more money.

“We’re not going to know exactly until we actually negotiate with the contractor, get a bid and a contract that we’ll take back to council for their approval, but right now we’re wanting to move that place holder up a million dollars so we’ll have enough money for that,” said IFFD Chief Dave Hanneman.

There’s more to the fund than that. There’s also that new ambulance coming in from the merger with Swan Valley.

“We’re going to hire 10 paramedics for that through a lateral transfer or lateral process,” Hanneman said. “We do not have any anticipated capital costs for that, it’s all related to personelle.”

Then there’s the third request that needs funding. The fire department needs to hire five firefighters and a training officer.

“Our budget strategy was to increase our level of service here, reduce overtime and be more efficient in what we have,” said Hanneman. “Coming in with a flat budget as much as possible.”

If the City Council approves the budget, the fire chief will will give quarterly reports showing how the money is being used.

The final budget will be approved Sept. 8.