Fayette Fire Department budget lowest in 5 years

The Fayette Fire Department’s budget for 2019-2020 is the lowest its been since the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

During a five-year span, the high was $75,916 and now it’s plunged to $63,625.

“We usually take the recommendations of the fire chief,” Fayette City Administrator and City Clerk Robin Triplett said. “I usually meet with the department heads and go over the budget and we put in the budgets what they ask for.”

Fayette Volunteer Fire Chief Chris Baylor said the department is able to operate within this budget.

While the fire department’s budget declined, the salary budget for the other city employees is on the rise.

Fayette’s firefighters and temporary summer employees are the only city employees not receiving a raise in the upcoming 2019-2020 fiscal year. The Fayette police officers are receiving a $1 raise and the other city employees are receiving a 50 cent raise.

Triplett said the city does review the fire department’s salaries, “but typically that’s not part of the pay raise increases.”

Baylor was not aware that firefighters were the only year-round city employee not receiving a raise.

“You can’t live off it.” Baylor said in regards to the pay. However, Baylor said he does it because he loves the job.

ABC 17 News obtained a copy of Fayette’s 2019-2020 budget. The city’s revenue is also expected to go down.

However, Triplett said the city is “pretty stable.”

City council members are scheduled to vote on the budget next Thursday.