ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown's police, fire and EMS departments all are requesting increased personnel as well as upgrades as part of the city's upcoming 2023 budget.
A special session of Allentown City Council met Wednesday to review proposals for the upcoming budget's provisions for public safety items.
- Police, Fire and EMS in the City of Allentown are requesting greater personnel through the 2023 budget process at a budget hearing for public safety items
- This includes five new police officers, four new paramedics, increased premium pay for Firefighters and a new ambulance
- Councilman Ed Zucal voiced concern about the use of ARPA funds for these new positions, which would only be funded until December 2026, and thinks the funds may be better used toward infrastructure
Among the proposals are five new police officers, four new paramedics, and a new ambulance.
Council members didn't disagree about the need for funding greater personnel, but some disagreements were voiced about the proposed use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for some of the positions.
In addition to hearing proposals about the budget, both presenters and those on city council voiced congratulations to Councilman Josh Siegel, who won election Tuesday for the state House 22nd District against challenger and former Allentown School District Board President Robert Smith.
Police
Police Chief Charles Roca explained the request for five more officers, which would increase the total authorized number for the department to 233 from 228. The five patrolmen, as the positions are listed in the budget, would be funded for the following year through the American Rescue Plan.
Roca said the department is not at that 228 number currently, but is "happy to report that we are making strides in meeting our current authorized strength."
The proposal said the positions would be for increased patrol, community outreach and investigative initiatives. Additionally, Roca said it would be in anticipation of potential retirements of officers in the department, and new officers would be hired at a salary of $66,446 according to the current proposal.
A presentation by the police department said the expansion of personnel would also allow for reductions in premium, or overtime pay.
Allentown Director of Finance Seth O’Neil advocated for the use of ARPA funding for the increased fire and EMS personnel, saying that provisions in the legislation allowed funding to be used toward increasing personnel to pre-Great Recession levels through Dec. 31, 2026.
Councilperson Ed Zucal voiced concern about the plan's proposal to use American Rescue Plan Act funds and said his correspondence with the U.S. Treasury ARPA department did not encourage use of those funds if they were to be a position that will continue after that 2026 date.
He voiced preference for hiring those personnel under the general fund instead, and focusing ARPA funds on infrastructure.
"At the end of 2026, after all the funds have run out, it's going to be on the backs of the taxpayers to complete the extension of however long it takes for those hires," Zucal said.
O'Neil defended the proposed use of ARPA money, saying nobody disagrees that the funding for personnel stopping at a later year is not an issue, but it still is an opportunity.
"You can pay for it now with the ARPA money, which essentially was gifted to us and the federal government," O'Neil said. "There's a specific provision for this very purpose. And that's that's our plan and that's what we think is the right thing to do."
Roca also advocated for the proposed budget item upgrades for in-car cameras, body cameras, uniforms and expired tasers, as well as increased training for officers to ensure greater public confidence.
Fire & EMS
The fire department is requesting increased funding for premium overtime pay so that it can fulfil its goal of having 29 on duty staff at all times.
Deputy Fire Chief Christian Williams said the increased funding would allow the safest balance of staffing that they could afford, which would have three members at each engine or truck company, which is not consistently achieved at this time.
He said 10 years ago, staffing allowed there to be 30 on- duty staff at all times and that having increased staff and consistency would allow fire personnel to arrive at a scene faster.
For EMS, the department is requesting, much like for police, to use ARPA funding to hire four new paramedics to their staff, adding onto the current personnel of 31. As per the budget, these positions would be paid at a salary of $60,899.
EMS also is requesting a fifth paramedic ambulance be added to its fleet, which would be active for 12 hours during the day and what the department said are its busiest hours.
According to the proposal, EMS loses 700-1,500 emergency calls per year to mutual aid action, and this new ambulance would assist in meeting those calls while also potentially increasing the department's revenue $150,000. Additionally, they report that call volume has increased in recent years.
Zucal continued to voice skepticism over the use of ARPA funds for these personnel, and believes the EMS department's revenue could provide for the personnel increases.
O'Neil defended the proposal again, pointing to each department's need for staffing if they are to return to historic norms and that the ARPA legislation would allow those expenditures without passing it onto taxpayers until the option stops being available.
"This was something we're able to give you a balanced budget with without a tax increase and we thought it was the way to go," said O'Neil.
Despite this disagreement, the council appeared receptive to the proposals overall, and commended the departments and their role in the community and the need for this gradual regrowth to continue for the departments.
"The main thing, almost everyone says they want the money spent on public safety," said councilperson Candida Affa. "Because you are the people that save lives every single day."
The proposed city budget is viewable on the City of Allentown's website.
