Rochester Fire Department Approved to Apply for FEMA Grant to Assist with Firefighter Hiring
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A short-handed Rochester City Council voted to apply for a federal grant to fund an effort to add more firefighters.
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On Monday night, the council unanimously gave the Rochester Fire Department the go-ahead to apply for a FEMA SAFER Grant. The application for funding to bring in more firefighters is in response to continued growth in Rochester.
The agenda item cites growth of Rochester’s city boundaries and increase in housing density in the city’s urban core, where 33 multi-family projects are either currently active or in the pipeline for construction.
Rochester City Council Votes 5-0 to Authorize Fire Department to Apply for Hiring Grant
The federal dollars would be used to help hire 15 more firefighters over a span of three years beginning in 2027. The terms of the grant call for a local funding match.
The agenda item indicates the federal government would cover 75% of the hiring costs in the first two years, a total that equates to more than $1.5 million per year.
In year three, the federal government would contribute more than $706,000, which equates to 35% of the cost. The City of Rochester would fill the remaining funding gaps over the three years.
$504,552.34 and $600,26.05 would be the local costs in years one and two respectively and the city would shell out $1,511,416.08 in the third year.
In all, local property tax dollars would cover $2,616,694.48 of the more than $6.35 million hiring effort, which equates to 41% of the total cost.
Additional costs that stem from contractual wage increases, step raises, or benefit changes would be covered at the local level.
Entire Cost Shifts to Local Level After 3 Years
After three years, the city would decide to continue funding the bolstered fire department staff using local tax dollars at an estimated annual cost of $2.5 million.
A presentation shown to the council said additional firefighters would improve firefighter safety, reduce overtime pressure, increase minimum daytime staffing and more.
The city council voted 4-1 to approve the fire department’s application for the grant. Councilmember Norman Wahl was the lone nay vote, citing concerns of an increased property tax burden.
Council President Randy Schubring and Councilmember Patrick Keane were absent from the meeting.
Correction: A previous version of this story said the measure passed on a 5-0 vote.
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