JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said it is analyzing ways to keep the department efficient as the city’s population grows.
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City of Jacksonville officials said it’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the country each year and that “we need to add more firefighters, fire stations, and equipment to keep up with that growth.”
The city wants to ensure the safety of its citizens through reduced response times, but it also maintains the top-notch ISO rating that delivers $300 million in property insurance savings for homeowners each year.
The department is looking at the numbers. The city said that this is happening due to the increase in the mayor’s proposed 2025-2026 budget. It is largely due to the historic union agreement that was negotiated to increase salaries and return to a defined benefit pension.
This progress creates better recruitment and retention opportunities that save taxpayer dollars over time.
The city released a statement in regard to overtime.
In our efforts to continually streamline services and create more efficiency, Chief Golden has asked Manager of Strategic Initiatives Willie King to lead an effort to analyze overtime spending and make recommendations on how to utilize it more efficiently, while meeting necessary staffing requirements.
Phil Perry, Chief Communications Officer
Percy Golden, the new JFRD fire chief, released a statement about the department’s efforts to become more efficient as the city’s population grows.
I was appointed as Acting Director and Fire Chief on June 30 and am currently reviewing the budget and the operations of each division within the department. My goal is to ensure that our resources are aligned with our mission in a way that is both effective and fiscally responsible. The priority of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is the safety of the Duval County community. To support this, we must maintain mandatory minimum staffing levels to ensure rapid and reliable emergency response. In addition, since earning a Class 1 ISO rating in 2016, JFRD has delivered significant cost savings to Jacksonville residents, totaling nearly $300 million per year in reduced insurance premiums. Maintaining this rating depends on meeting ISO’s required minimum staffing levels. I will continue to evaluate our resource allocations and remain focused on delivering the high level of service residents expect from JFRD.
Percy Golden, JFRD Fire Chief
There is no word on when the analysis will be complete, but there could be an update before the end of the year.
