MO Fire Department Could Spend Nearly $3.6M on New Gear

Kansas City may spend nearly $3.6 million to replace firefighters’ gear, most of which is failing inspection or past its useful lifespan, a City Council committee decided Wednesday.

The Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to approve the money out of the general fund. It would pay for new protective pants and coats to be used when firefighters respond to calls. The full council is expected to take up the issue Thursday.

“When we’re talking about turnout gear for our employees, that is the most basic equipment they use in fire suppression besides a hand line and an ax,” said Kansas City Fire Chief Donna Maize. “I think this is the one piece that we cannot be remiss on their individual safety.”

Kansas City had planned to pay for the gear through a quarter-cent increase in the sales tax it uses to help fund the fire department. It had planned to put the issue before voters on April 7, a few weeks before the start of the city’s new fiscal year.

But the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, forced Missouri to postpone elections across the state. Kansas City’s is June 7.

Councilwoman Katheryn Shields, who chairs the committee, used the need for new gear to urge her colleagues in January to support the increase and send it to the ballot for voters’ approval. At the time, some felt the legislation was rushed: It appeared in committee on a Wednesday and was fast-tracked to a full City Council vote the next day.

The tax increase would yield an estimated $315 million over its 15-year life. It would help with suppression gear, station upgrades and truck replacement. At a committee meeting in January, Maize said the department faces $80 million in immediate facility and equipment needs alone.

The committee amended the ordinance to say the city would reimburse its general fund from the sales tax if it passes in June.

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