Finance Committee reviews FY27 Fire budget with substantial salary, training increases
Finance Committee reviews FY27 Fire Department budget with substantial cost increases. Finance Committee Member Joshua Franklin presented a detailed budget model developed with Fire Chief Christian Hassel showing firefighter salaries rising from $219,000 to $433,000 and training rising from $32,000
Finance Committee · Meeting of February 24, 2026
ESSEX — Finance Committee reviews FY27 Fire Department budget with substantial cost increases. Finance Committee Member Joshua Franklin presented a detailed budget model developed with Fire Chief Christian Hassel showing firefighter salaries rising from $219,000 to $433,000 and training rising from $32,000 to $93,000. The model assumes one new full-time position while maintaining day-shift coverage and establishing a Fire Prevention Officer role.
Fire Chief Hassel stated no additional significant increase is anticipated next year. The committee also approved a $6,600 line-item transfer from Ambulance Training Salaries to address an Ambulance Salaries overdraft, and received updates that the regional Veterans Services shared-service district will return approximately $5,000 to $6,000 to Essex from capital reserves.
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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of February 24, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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