City Council forms committee to weigh long-term options as department plans to align some staffing, apparatus Oct. 1
FOLSOM — Continuing to far its $3 million budget deficit, Folsom city leaders are moving forward with changes to the fire department’s deployment model, stressing that public safety remains a priority even as cost-cutting measures are implemented.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, City Manager Bryan Whitemyer addressed public concern and rumors that circulated online suggesting Fire Station 38 on Blue Ravine Road was slated for closure.
“The plan is not to close any fire station,” Whitemyer said. “Public safety is and will always be our top priority. However, it’s also the largest expenditure we have.”
Instead, officials are considering a reassignment of apparatus and staffing designed to trim overtime costs, which have been running more than $1 million above budget annually. One proposal eliminates a fire engine while reallocating crews across the city’s six stations.
“Whenever you reduce something like that, we can no longer say we’re just going to do more with less, we’re going to do less with less,” Whitemyer acknowledged.
Folsom City Council took a significant step toward evaluating potential changes to the city’s fire department in response to ongoing budget challenges. The council unanimously approved the formation of a Fire Services Exploratory Committee, which will consist of two city councilmembers and two board members from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (Sac Metro Fire).
According to the staff report, the committee will meet periodically over the coming months to assess existing fire service delivery models in both agencies, identify opportunities for collaboration or integration, review fiscal, operational, and governance implications of potential partnership models, and provide periodic updates to the full City Council and Sac Metro Fire Board.
City officials emphasized that the committee will serve in an advisory and exploratory capacity only, with no authority to make binding decisions. Preserving local control and service quality will remain key factors in any future discussions. Several councilmembers noted the historical importance of Folsom’s independent fire department and the community’s pride in retaining local public safety services. However, they agreed that a thorough, transparent review is necessary given the city’s fiscal realities.
Councilmembers Sarah Aquino and Barbara Leary were appointed to represent the city on the committee. Residents can expect updates as the committee’s work progresses, with opportunities for public input before any major changes are made to Folsom’s fire services.
Whitemyer noted that the fiscal year budget approved in June funded the fire department at levels higher than the prior year, with standard cost-of-living adjustments intact. What has changed, he said, is accountability. For years, departments were allowed to exceed their budgets without council approval, a practice that contributed to the city’s ongoing shortfalls. With new leadership, that practice has ended.
“To be clear, the Fire Department has not requested additional funds, and the Council has not cut their funding,” Whitemyer said. “We will continue reviewing financials at upcoming council meetings, where the community will have the opportunity to provide input on priorities.”
Earlier this week, Cusano confirmed their own initial changes coming to fire services starting next month. “Effective October 1, 2025, the Fire Department will implement a strategic reassignment of resources to reduce overtime costs while maintaining essential fire suppression and EMS coverage across the City of Folsom,” Cusano said in a statement.
While one engine company will be eliminated, all six fire stations will remain open and staffed. Cusano said the shift prioritizes coverage in the city’s highest-risk areas, preserves advanced life support transport capability, and ensures deployment is aligned with fiscal constraints. Additional medic units are expected to return later in October as new recruits complete training.
“We remain committed to protecting public safety while keeping the city on a transparent and fiscally responsible path,” Cusano said.
City leaders are urging residents to take part in the process. Public meetings are scheduled for September 23 and October 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 50 Natoma Street, where residents can share input as Folsom navigates its budget crisis.
Tuesday’s meeting followed heightened concern last week when a social media post, attributed to a page claiming to represent the Folsom Firefighters Association, suggested Fire Station 38 would close indefinitely beginning October 1.
City officials quickly pushed back. “We are aware of inaccurate information circulating about an indefinite closure of Fire Station 38. While service modifications are being considered, the intent is to have fire station personnel staffed at all Folsom fire stations,” city communications director Christine Brainerd told Folsom Times.
A department memo obtained by Folsom Times on Monday clearly illustrated there were no plans to close Station 38 as well and included specific details on how apparatus would be reassigned across the city. The memo outlined the upcoming reassignments, which include relocating Truck 35 and Air Utility 35 to Station 34, moving Engine 38 to Station 35, and eliminating Engine 34 from the staffing plan. It stressed that the plan protects suppression coverage in high-risk areas while adjusting staffing levels to match budget realities.
On July 9, the City Council reversed a proposal to defer hiring 10 firefighter/paramedics, ultimately approving eight recruits after two rescinded their offers amid uncertainty. That meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd and warnings from Chief Cusano and regional fire leaders about the dangers of thinning Folsom’s fire ranks.
The council’s decision then underscored the tension between fiscal constraints and maintaining strong emergency services — a theme that continues to shape budget discussions today.
More Fire Department business at Tuesday’s meeting
In addition to the exploratory committee and resource realignments, the City Council also approved two labor agreements directly impacting fire services and city operations.
The first agreement is with the Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522, the union representing Folsom’s firefighters. The new three-year contract includes annual 2.5 percent cost-of-living raises, higher tuition reimbursement for continuing education, new longevity pay for employees with more than ten years of service, and increased paramedic incentive pay that will phase in by 2027. It also updates educational programs and makes various clarifications in work rules and language.
The second agreement is with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 39, which represents a wide range of technical and trade employees across the city. This three-year contract provides 3 percent annual cost-of-living raises, salary range adjustments for several positions such as mechanics, technicians, and plant operators, along with a higher uniform and boot allowance. It also expands annual leave cash-out options, allowing employees to convert more unused time into pay each year.
City leaders said the agreements reflect the city’s obligation to bargain in good faith with employee unions while ensuring fair compensation and support for the workforce as Folsom works through its fiscal challenges.
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