Boston Fire Department Seeks $310.6 Million Budget as Federal Grant Funding Expires

BOSTON — May 13, 2025 — Boston City Council scrutinizes a $310.6 million fire department budget as federal staffing grant expires. The Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by District 4 Councilor Brian Worrell, questioned Fire Commissioner Paul Burke and his leadership team Tuesday on the proposed FY26 spending plan, a $4,030,957 increase over the current year driven largely by collective bargaining agreements and the absorption of 85 firefighters whose SAFER grant funding from FEMA expired in March. Overtime spending drew pointed questions from multiple councilors after climbing from $36 million in FY23 to $46 million in FY24. The department reported a record eight women in the current recruit class, all cadet-program graduates, and noted it holds roughly $3 million in active federal grants and just over $1.5 million in state grants. Local 718 President Sam Dillon told the committee that the average Boston firefighter retires with a life expectancy of five years — "there's no other job like this in the world," he said — underscoring councilor demands that wellness funding be protected in the operating budget, not just in expiring grants.