City officials highlighted significant challenges in public safety staffing during a recent government meeting, revealing a concerning trend in the city's ability to respond to increasing service demands. Over the past decade, city staffing has decreased by approximately 18%, failing to keep pace with the population growth and the rising number of emergency calls.

The fire department has been particularly affected, experiencing nearly a 40% increase in calls for service from 2013 to 2022. This surge has coincided with a decline in part-time staffing, a trend not unique to Fitchburg but reflective of a national decrease in available volunteer and part-time personnel. As a result, the average response time for emergencies has increased, necessitating more mutual aid requests from neighboring fire departments, which further delays response times.

To address these issues, city officials emphasized the need for additional funding to bolster the fire department's full-time staff and to raise the hourly wage for part-time firefighters from $12 to a minimum of $15. This wage increase aims to attract and retain personnel amid growing demands.

Similarly, the police department reported a 22% increase in calls for service over the same period, underscoring the mounting pressure on law enforcement resources. Officials acknowledged that the current staffing levels are insufficient to meet the escalating public safety needs of the community.

The discussions at the meeting underscored the urgent need for strategic investments in public safety to ensure that city services can effectively respond to the growing demands of its residents.