The Syracuse Common Council recently held a budget hearing for the city’s fire department. Chief Michael Monds said the budget is focused on the safety of firefighters and the people they’re sworn to protect.
About one out of every four dollars of the city budget goes to the city's police and fire departments.
Monds said the past few years have been some of the busiest on record for the department. He said in 2024, the department responded to close to 28,000 calls. The year before, they broke a record with almost 30,000.
Monds said 45 firefighters have died in the line of duty, so he’s extra conscious that the budget he produces uses every piece of money efficiently and effectively.
“This budget is about the safety of our people we're supposed to protect and our firefighters, and last year we had 60 firefighters that were hurt on duty,” Monds said.
As for staffing vacancies, the department has 380 budgeted positions, of which 12 are vacant. Monds said they plan the new class of recruits around projected retirements.
The council votes on the budget May 8.
