City Council committee hears budget proposal from Minneapolis Fire Department
The Minneapolis Fire Department made its case to members of the City Council’s budget committee on Tuesday for more than $85 million of next year’s city budget.
As previously reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, the department has seen service calls go up, but staffing hasn’t kept up with that pace.
Mayor Jacob Frey wants the money to break down into three parts: $63.1 million for fire suppression, emergency medical services and technical rescue; $10.6 million for community risk reduction and outreach and another $11.8 million for training and recruitment.
The plan also comes after a recent report by Minnesota Fire about PTSD and mental health, which showed 1,400 firefighters received mental health treatment across the state last year. The most recent numbers – through August of this year – show more than 900 firefighters have received help, which is on pace to exceed last year.
RELATED: More fighters across Minnesota seeking help for mental health issues
“We’re experiencing a significant increase in mental health claims. So, we are trying to find ways to take care of our people in any way we can,” Chief Bryan Tyner previously said.
You can find more information about the department’s expenses and revenue by CLICKING HERE.