2023 City of Shakopee Budget

93

Budget Impact: The Shakopee Fire Department is consistently praised and receives high marks from citizens and citizen surveys and does so while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget. We consistently strive to be the best fire department possible, not as a competition against others but because it is our duty and our mission. We continue to be cost-effective, since 2012 the Shakopee Fire Department Relief Association has not required any monetary support from the City toward the firefighter pension fund. Currently the fire department operates with four full-time staff in administration, four full-time firefighters, and 46 part- time firefighters. While the department has maintained acceptable operations with these staffing levels, it has also recognized areas for improvement. The most crucial of which is a need for proper supervision on nights and weekends. In 2023 the fire department seeks to add three full-time supervisor positions responsible for 24-hour shifts. In addition, the department will adjust the four full-time firefighters’ positions from Monday through Friday to 24-hour shifts. The remaining open slots on these shifts will be temporarily staffed with part-time firefighters until additional full-time firefighter positions are added to complete fully staffed shifts. In 2020, to accommodate overnight shifts, provisional resting or sleeping accommodations were arranged in the conference room at fire station 1. With the continuation of overnight staffing comes the need for a permanent solution and plans are in place for an addition to the fire station once proper funding is secured. The City of Shakopee continues to grow as does the number of visitors to this attractions’ destination and with that comes an increased demand for fire services. In 2022 we are projected to respond to a record high 1,700 emergency incidents which is well over double the number from 2017. The number of plan reviews and fire inspections continues to increase at a similar rate. The fire department has steadily prepared for and will continue to strategize to meet the needs of the future.

EMPLOYEES

PERCENT OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES

46

46

46

46

Fire Department 10.0%

11

8

8

8

Actual 2020 Actual 2021 Budget 2022 Budget 2023

Number of Employees (FTEs) Paid On Call Firefighters