FY2027 Boston Fire Department Budget Hearing - May 11, 2026
FY2027 Boston Fire Department Budget Hearing - May 11, 2026
On May 11, 2026, at 10:02 AM, the Boston City Council Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Councilor Ben Weber, held a hearing to review the Boston Fire Department's (BFD) Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget (Docket Nos. 0733-0740). The hearing featured presentations from new Fire Commissioner Rodney Marshall and department staff, followed by questions from councilors and public testimony. Key topics included the cadet program, federal and state grant funding, health and wellness initiatives, capital projects, and the department's response to fiscal constraints.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sam Dillon, President of Boston Firefighters Local 718: Expressed strong support for restoring $1.4–$1.5 million in funding for health and wellness programs, including cancer screenings, which were previously covered by a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) that the department did not receive this year. Dillon emphasized that early detection saves lives and argued that the city should prioritize this funding even in a tight budget year.
Discussion Items
- Budget Overview: Commissioner Marshall noted that the BFD's operating budget has remained largely level-funded over the past decade, while costs for equipment, contractual obligations, and emergency response have increased. The FY2027 request reflects a 2.4% increase, primarily driven by collective bargaining agreements. The department has absorbed reductions in state training funding and established a new cadet program.
- Grants: Deputy Commissioner Kevin Coyne reported that BFD currently holds eight active federal grants totaling $1.8 million and six state grants totaling $1.4 million (including $1.7 million for the training academy). The department did not receive the competitive AFG grant this year, threatening health screening programs that have screened 587 firefighters, with 94 requiring follow-up and 2 melanomas detected. Councilors expressed concern about the loss of this funding and discussed potential supplemental or amendment options.
- Cadet Program and Hiring: Recruitment Officer Michael Gaskins highlighted the success of the cadet program, which targets Boston residents with at least three years of residency. Two cadet classes have graduated, with record numbers of women. The hybrid hiring process (combining civil service with cadet/hybrid pathways) has increased diversity. The department hired 13 from the hybrid list in the most recent recruit class. Cadets earn $32,000/year (up from $29,000 initially).
- Health and Safety: The department's health and wellness division, funded largely by grants, has provided comprehensive body scans (637 firefighters), identified 413 with cardiovascular issues, and offered nutritionist sessions (546 sessions). The loss of AFG funding could end these programs. Councilors emphasized the need to prioritize firefighter health, citing the average five-year life expectancy after retirement.
- Capital Projects and Firehouse Upgrades: BFD operates over 40 aging buildings. Recent capital investments include three new marine vessels ($9.2 million), a new firehouse (Engine 17), and design studies for Engine 8 and Engine 3. The department spent only 66% of its FY26 capital budget due to delays from the Public Facilities Department. Councilors questioned the slow pace and urged faster improvements to separate living quarters from apparatus bays to reduce carcinogen exposure.
- Innovation and Training: The training division developed a custom EV fire nozzle, saving $100,000. The department has acquired a 300-foot red line train for training and is working on energy storage fire training. Concerns about EV and e-bike battery fires were raised, with 16 micromobility battery fires tracked.
- Diversity and Promotions: Councilors discussed the impact of the dissolved consent decree on hiring and promotion of minorities. The hybrid process aims to increase Boston resident representation, but veterans' preference points in promotional exams remain a challenge. Councilor Culpepper requested data on hiring and promotion trends since the consent decree ended.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational. Councilors expressed strong support for restoring the $1.4 million in health and wellness funding, with several suggesting a supplemental budget amendment. Chair Weber noted the need to balance use of reserves and avoid over-reliance on one-time funds.
- The department will provide additional data on the cost of PFAS-free gear, firehouse HVAC upgrades, and the impact of the consent decree's dissolution.
- The committee will continue budget hearings and consider amendments before the full council vote in June.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. My name is Ben Weber. I'm the district six city counselor and the chair of the Ways and Means Committee. Today is May 11th, 2026, and the exact time is ten oh two. So I just have a few preliminaries to get through here. Uh this hearing is being recorded. It's also being live streamed at Boston.gov slash city dash council dash TV and broadcast on Xfinity Channel Eight, RCN Channel 82, and FIOS Channel 964. The council's budget review process encompasses a series of public hearings beginning in April and running through June. First, they can attend one of our hearings and give public testimony. Uh, for a full hearing schedule. Look at our website. You can find it on Boston.gov slash council dash budget. We also have a in-person listening session, the fourth of four, which will be Thursday evening, May twenty-sixth at six p.m. right here in the chamber. For in-person testimony, please come to the chamber and sign up on the sheet near the entrance. For virtual testimony, you can sign up using our online form at our council budget review website or by emailing the committee at CCC.gov or by emailing Karishmachon, that's K A R I S H M A. C H O U H A N at Boston.gov. When you are called to testify, please say your name, your residence, and your affiliation with any organization. In lieu of testifying virtually or in person at a hearing, you can email written testimony to the committee at CCC.gov. For more information on the city council's budget process and how to testify, please visit the city council's budget website at Boston.gov slash council dash budget. Again, in-person and public testimony will be taken following the first round of counselor questions. Individuals will be called on the order in which they have signed up and we'll have two minutes to testify. If you wish to sign up for public testimony and haven't done so, uh again, please email our director of legislative budget analysis, Karishma Chowan at K-A-R-I-SHMA.CHOUHAN at Boston.gov for the zoom link and your name will be added to the list. This morning's hearing is on docket numbers 0733 to 0740, an overview of the fiscal year 2027 operating budget for the Boston Fire Department. This is one in a series of hearings to review the fiscal year 2027 budget. These matters were sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and were referred to the committee on April 8th, 2026. This morning I'm joined by my colleagues on order of arrival. Apologies to Councillor Louis Gen, but I've got Councillor Flynn first. Uh uh Councillor Louis Gen second, and then Councillor Murphy. Um, while we often have opening statements at at hearings like this, we're waiving them in the budget hearings. So uh you'll hear from my colleagues in a second. I'm going to introduce the panelists. We're joined uh today by Deputy Commissioner of Administration Finance uh uh Kevin Coyne, Deputy Fire Chief for the Training Division, Scott Malone, uh Deputy of Operations Field Services Patrick Ellis, and for his first hearing here as our new fire commissioner Rodney Marshall. Uh again, uh congratulations. And uh this is uh an interesting way to start. Uh uh but uh um I'm sorry. So you know it's someone Michael. I apologize. Can you just tell tell me your name so I can get it to get it down right? Gaskins, G-A-S-K-I-N-S. I'm the recruitment officer for the department. Okay. First name? Michael. Michael. Okay, thank you. Okay, we're joined by Michael Gaskins, recruiting officers at uh recruitment, recruitment officer. Recruitment officer for the Boston Fire Department. Okay, thank you very much. Uh, and again, welcome.
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