2026-10-5 Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee Meeting

The Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee discussed the fire department’s 2027–28 biennial budget at its meeting identified as October 5, 2026 (the metadata lists October 7). The department outlined a proposed 2027 budget increase of nearly $700,000, or 14.3%, including a request to make a part-time administrative position full-time, increased training-consortium funding, accreditation and performance-analysis software, and SCBA equipment to outfit the fleet. The software was described as costing $30,000 for setup plus $5,000 annually under a five-year contract; the department said the dispatch center’s existing connection helps reduce the cost. Training fees are assessed per member and were projected to rise from about $5,800 in 2026 to just over $6,000 in 2027. These were budget requests and explanations, not contract awards or spending approvals. The committee approved the agenda; no procurement-related vote was taken.

Discussion also covered staffing and response capacity, overtime reductions following the addition of firefighters, vehicle maintenance costs, and the consequences of budget reductions—including reduced staffing, training, and potential risk to accreditation. Committee members requested follow-up information on the software’s budget classification and implementation, staffing and position costs, training requirements, overtime rates, volunteer expenses, and administrative duties. The meeting ended without a budget decision.